




The Friends 

of the 

West Point Libran' 




DONATED BY 
THE FAMILY OF 
MICHAEL KRAYEWSKI 

4 52d Bomb Group 
US ARMY AIRFORCE 
WWII 



■'>^\ 




1r^ « 



^/^ ^^, ^^,^^^^ 



i 



G 11 A N T 



HIS CA]\IPAIGXS 



A ^IILITAKY BIOGRAPHY. 



BY 

ITEXRY coprEE, A. :\r., 

EUITOr. OF TlIK UNITtD STATtS SEKVICE MAi'.AZIVK. 



N]:AV YOllK : 

CHARLES Ji. JilCHAUDSON, 

CINCIXXATI: C. F. VKNT A: CO., 

SI'KINGFIELD: W. J. HOLLAND. 



^') 







Entered acconiing to Act of Congress, in the year 1S66, 

By CIIAPXES B. EICUAHD&OM, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United Slates for the Southern District of 

Kew York. 



JOHN' (5. PIIKA, 

8TERF.OTTPKR iND ELECTUOTT PER, 

81, 83, & ib Ceiitre-street. 
N. Y. 



PKINTED BV 
GEO, C. P. A >° J> k 



0\-' ^\^ 



V UEF ACE. 



The follow iu;4" Military Biography of Licutcnant-Gencral Grant 
is intended to oflfer but an outline of the great events in which he 
has borne the most distinguished part. As he held an independent 
command of troops in the field, from the beginning of the war — 
the movement upon Corinth only excepted — I have endeavored to 
present his plans, their execution, and the results, without entering 
into the minute details of the battle tactics ; giving only so much 
of these as is necessary to enable the reader to understand the 
general's purposes and achievements. 

In writing the life of a subordinate commander, we should gain 
in detail, but lose in comprehension, — dwelling more upon what he 
did, than upon the relations sustained to other men and movements 
on the field ; but it is different here. Grant's life requires a glance 
at every part of the field of Pittsburg Landing ; the great outline 
of the Vicksburg campaign ; a summary of the splendid military 
successes at Chattanooga. After his appointment as commander-in- 
chief, all parts of the vast theatre of operations must be considered ; 
while, as he made his headquarters with the Army of the Potttmac, 
and personally directed it, n)ore stress miisf be laiil upon tlie move- 
ments of that army than upcm others. 

I have said thus much by way of scH-vindioation, should any 
reader — especially some gallant soldier — fail to find as many battle 
pictures, and as much of the movements of the lesser organizations, 
as he had expected. I could not neglect the philosophy of Grant's 
hi.story, and there was not space for both. 

In describing his earlier campaigns, I have had recourse to much 
fuUiT material than in the latter portions. The reports of many 
subordinate command- , Union and Confederate, have been pub- 



4 PREFACE. 

lishod, and there are even critical commentaries upon these, -which 
guard the historian against error. But in the latter parts, there is 
yet great dearth of detail. ' I have been obliged to depend, for the 
connected outline, upon the masterly — I may say, model — report of 
General Grant ; and for details to sucn materials as had been re- 
ceived, not even including extended reports of the corps-commanders. 

It is not improbable, therefore, that, for want of such corrective 
matter in the details, I may have made occasional mistakes, in 
spite of my best efforts to avoid doing so. 

"When such errors are pointed out, they shall be corrected. 

I must express my hearty tlianks to General Grant for his kind- 
ness in sanctioning my attempt to portray his military career, and 
to Major-Gcneral Pai-wlins for his invaluable assistance in furnish- 
ing materials without which the work could not have been written. 
Most of this material could not have been otherwise obtained. For 
its use, and the form in which it is presented, I alone am re- 
sponsible. 

To my friend, Captain Thomas Mitchell, of Philadelphia, lat« a 
staff-officer in the Army of the Potomac, I am indebted for valuable 
assistance in collecting notes, and in transcribing some of the 
earlier portions of the work. 

I shall be amply paid for my labors, which have been arduous, 
if my simple narrative shall prove to tlie world the truth of the 
opinion, ah'cad}^ very widely entertained, that Grant is the first 
soldier of tlic age, and the most distinguished American of the 
Regenerated Republic. 

n. G. 

PniLADELrniA, December 1, ISCd. 



cox T E X ^r 8 



CH.APTER I. 

THE GREAT WAR OPENS. 

Kcffin's cannon. — Fort Sumter. — Tub effect o:* the massm. — The Nation must 
BE saved. — The attitide of the rebels. — Ocr ow.i nirTV {-leak.— The rcsu to 

AKM-i. — OfK IONORANCE of WAR. — Thk WANT OF EVKP.V THING. — TuE EDUCATION 
KEKOED AND EVKNTUALLY OBTAINED. — GraNT AN APT SCHOLAR 13 



CHAPTER 11. 

CHILDHOOD AND CADET LIFE. 

Grant's lineaoe. — The new school of bioorapiit. — IIis parentage and birth- 
place. — Ills NAME. — Stories of his yodtii. — Limited euication. — Appointment 

to the MiLITAItV .ACADEMV. — IIlS SCHOLAR.-'niP. — ClaS.<MATES. — KtCOLLfcCTlONS OF 
HIM WHILE A CADET. — TllE GERMS OF CH.VKACTER. — IIe OR.VULATES IS 

CHAPTER III. 

ARMY LIFE AND RETIREMENT FROM SERVICE. 

Brevet 9f.cond-lieitenant Fourth Infantry. — Goes to Corpus Ciiristi.— .\t 
1'alo Alto and Kkj-aca pe la Palma. — At ^Ionterey. — .\t Vera Cruz.— Rici- 
mkntal quartermaster. — Fights at Molino and Ciiapultepec. — Mentioned in 

REPORTS AND BREVKTTED CAPTAIN. — AT CLOSE OF WAR SENT TO THE NoRTHBItN 

frontleb. — Marries. — Off to Oregon. — Hard work. — Leather-dealer 'jl 

CHAPTER IV. 

BELMONT. 

Effect of the news oh Grant. — .V Democrat before thk war. — An rNQrALinr.o 
WAR-MAN NOW.— Raises a company. — Adjutant-general and mustering officeb. — 
Colonel of the Twe.ntt- first Illinois.— .Marchi».— .\ctino brioadier at Cairo. 
— The VALUE of Cairo.— Tub rebel strateoy.- Expu; r: .\ t ■ Hklmovt.— Fre- 
mont's orders. — Poi.K at CoLUMBrs. — The battle. I'.ni.mt re-en- 
roRCED.— Grant withdraws.— CoMUKXTs . -.'S 



Q CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER Y. 

FORT n E X 11 y. 

Halleck's Departmest or Missouri.— Grant's recoxnoissance rvro Kevtcckt. 
—Its value— Map of field of operations.— Collmbus, the Gibraltar or 
America.— Rebel line.— Forts Henry and Doxelson.— Footes flotilla.— 
C. F. Smith and Phelps recon-noitre Fort Henry.— Grant receives permis- 
sion TO ATTACK. — The fort described. — Lloyd Tilghman in command. — 
Grant's orders of march and battle. — The naval attack. — The surrender. 
—Comments on rebel defeat.— On to Donelson.— Tribute to Commodore 
Foote ^^ 



CHAPTEE \J. 

F o 11 t donelson. 

Eeoroanization.— Order of march.- McClernand and f^Mrrn move.— A glance 
AT the fort. — River-front.— Lant) approaches.— Garrison and commantjers. — 
Assault upon the trenches. — Unsuccessful.— Storm and cold. — Ke-enforce- 

MENTS under L. WaLLACE.— TiIE ATTACK OF THE GUNBOATS.— TeRRIBLE CANNON- 
ADE.— FoOTE WITHDRAWS.— Value of his attack.— Rebel counter-plans.— Our 
eight attacked and rolled back. — Grant's consummate plan. — L. Wallace 

xf<"»XTira .__,.- .•■■■• •..••.•..•.•..•••• ^v 



CHAPTER YII. 

GENERAL SMITll's ATTACK AND THE SURRENDER. 

Smith's columns organized.- Lauman the forlorn hope.— Smith leads.— Ad- 
dresses his men.— The lines move.— Smith's splendid valor decisive.— Floyd's 
new council —He turns over the command.— Pillow looks at the cards, and 
" passes."- The pusillanimous flight.— Buckner surrenders.— The corre- 
6P0NDENCE.— Grand results.— Comments.— Eulogy of General C. F. Smith. 63 



CHAPTER YIII. 

PREPARATIONS FOR A NEW ADVANCE. 

Grant's enlarged command.- General Buell co-operates with Halleok.— .\d- 
ministkation.-Discipli.ne, justice, humanity.— Nashville falls.- Surprise or 
THE people.— A. S. Joiin.«ton retires to Murfreesuoro'.— The ascent of the 
Tennkssee.- Corinth thueatexed.— Island No. lo— Seals the river.-The 
position descriued.— Pope takes New Madrid.— General Mackall and the 
American Thekmopvl.e.-Schuyler Hamilton's canal.— The capture and 

bout 



CON'l'F.NTS 7 

CHM'TEll IX. 
grant's new campaign. 

rnTSBino LaNTJINO.— TllK LANDIXO.— (JUANr'sDIoroftlTloNS.— TiiK UEBKI. ADVANfE.— 
J.)I1N»T<>>'.S l-ltOCI.AMATlOX.— The ATTACK ON rKKXTI.«l) -Hn SiiKKMAX, IllUI.BUT, 

Mo<.'i.EUXAXi), Axi) WAM.ArK.— The situation at ten o'clock.— Kkbel losses.— 
The oixBoATs.— Webstkh'.-* aktu.lkky. — Sikoeon Coknyn.— The final attack 
ON SuxiiAY.— Lewi.s Wallace arkives.- His delay.— Moxoay mokxixo. — Huell 
ON the field.— Battle on the left— On the nioiiT.- Healkeuakd retires.- 



COIUIENTS. 



82 



CHAPTER X. 

THE SIEGE OF C O 11 1 N T II . 

CoRiNTn DESCRIBED.— Sherman's reconnoissance.— The arrival of ITalleck.— 
Pope's army comes ii\— Beacreoard's order.— His force— ( »vr8.— Pope 
TAKES Farminoton.— The battle of Farminoton.— Elliot's raid.— C'orintii 

KVACl-ATED. — The occupation and PIRSVIT. — CO-OPERATINO MOVEMENTS. — 

Mitchel's march.— The navy.— Fight at Memphis.- New efforts or the 

ENEMY 1"* 

CHAPTER XL 

lUKA AND CORINTH. 
After a bp.ief halt, forward.— Administration.-Ii'ka.-Price marches ip.— 
Grant's sagacity.- The battle.— Kosecrans and Ord.— Difficult ground.— 
Price retreats southward. — roRixTii.— The fortifications.— Price's attack 
—Van Dorn's.- The bloody repulse.— Ord and IIurlbut in flank and rear. 
— " How does it all sum up?" — Sketches of commanders 117 

CHAPTER XII. 

THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE. 
The extent of Grant's command.— Districts.— Ketrospect.-Williams' canal.— 
Farraguts fleet.— The .Arkansas Destroyed.— C^ra-nt moves.- Pembebt-.n in 
command of the rebel army.— Grant's army and staff.- Trade.— The value 
ok Vioksburo.— Port Hudson.— The Tallahatchie.— Hovey's movement.— 
The pr.i.*pect bright.— Murphy's surrendeb.—Shermans e.xpedition to Vicks- 
BURo.— Unsuccessful.- Arkansas 1'ost.— Army corps.— Emancipation procla- 

MATIUN, AND COLORED TROOPS "^ 

CHAPTER XITI. 

THE N'EW M0\'EMENT T0WA1U)S VICKSBURG. 

Routes proposed.— Williams' canal.— Why it failed.— Milliken's Bend.— Lake 
Providexce — The Yazoo Pa.-s.— Steele's Bayou.— Porter's exerov.— Tan- 
gled country.— What next!— To New Carthage, and bbyoxd.— 1'amixo 
the BATTERiE.-f.- First boats.— Sheet* of fire.— Secoxd lot.— Hard Tuixs.— 
Across to Bruinsburo.— Battle or Port Gibson.— Enemy routed 158 



CONTENTS. 



CH.AJTER XIV. 

VICKSBURG : THE BATTLES, ASSAULTS, AND SIEGE. 

Fortune smiles. — Defexces of Vicksburo, — Grand Gulf ours. — Shekiiax's feikt 
ON Haines' Bluff. — Grant's grand tactics. — IIattle of Kaymond. — Battle 
of Jackson. — Johnston driven out. — Where is I'emberton ? — Ax Champion's 
Hill.— Battle there. — Enemy demoralized. — Battle of the Big Black. — 
Investment. — Fleet co-operates. — Two assaults. — Both fail 164 



CHAPTER XT. 

VICKSBURG BESIEGED. 

Re-enforcements. — Thk complete investment. — The condition of Vicksbcro. 
— The first mine. — The explosion. — Effects. — We gain a lodgment. — 
The cannonade. — The second mine. — Pp.eparations for final assault. — 
Pemberton's change of opinion. — Further delay useless. — Is ready to sue- 

RENDER ISO 



CHAPTER XYI. 

■nCKSBURG FALLS. — " LTSTEXED TO THE SEA." 
Flag of truce. — Pemberton's request. — The interview. — Terms described. — 

CoRltE-SPONDENCE. — TehMS ACCEPTED. — ViCKSBDRO SURRENDERS. — FoURTH OF JULY. 

— Rebellion cut in two. — Only needs shaking, to fall apart. — Grant's tri- 
umphal ENTRY. — The Mississippi " unvexed to the sea." — Comments 186 



CHAPTER XYII. 

FINISHING TOUCHES : CLEARING THE 'WRECK. 
Effect of the new.*?. — President's letter to Grant. — Port Hudson waits tiik 

fall of VlCK.^BL'llO — SuiJltENDERS. — CoURtaPONDEXCE AND CONDITIONS. — SlIER- 

UAN MOVES AGAINST JollNSTON. JollNSTON HOLDS JaCK-SON. HlS ORDKR. — He 

DECAMPS 1S4 



CHAPTER X\^II. 

ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION. 

Expeditions in all directions. — The haul at Natchez. — E.xtra military quks- 
Tii>NS. — The sniJEirr ^>v tuakk. — Takifk of pricks on the Mississippi. — IIonohs 
at .Memphis. — Review at New Orleans. — .Sad accident, am> its rksults. — 

J'MiriAL RECOVEIIV. — BoARUS OF HONOR. — COMMENTS 203 



CONTENTS. 9 

CHAPTER XIX. 

Tin: MILITARY DIMSION OF THE MlSSISSim — THE DEPARTMENT OF 
THE CUMIJERI^VND. 

ClIK'KAMACr.A. — A GLANCE AT THE TOPOGRAPHY. — ThE NEW COMMAND. — ThE ARMV 

CONCENTKATEP. — AT ChaTTANOoOA. — A FINE CHANlE OF BTAIIVINO. SmiIH' 

8TKATAOEM. — HOOKEK Al)VANCE.S. — BRAGo'tl FATAL KItUOR. — ShERUAN IfOVtt*. — 
KECONNUISSANCEa AND PLANS 210 



CHAPTER XX. 

THE GRAND MOVEMENT BEGUN. 

Sherman marches. — Thomas's advance. — Sherman crosses and takes position. — 
Hooker co-operates. — All ready along the line. — The Confederateb. — 

WaITLNO fob iioOKJtU. — SlORMLNO OF TUB ICIDGE. — IIoOKER ATTACKS. — ThE 
FIlillT ENDED AND I'LltSLIT BEGUN. — PlHSUIT DISCONTIXUED. — COMMENTS 2"t 



CHAPTER XXI. 

BURNSIDE AT KNOXYILLE. 

Ills ENTRANCE TNTO KnoXVILLE F0RTIFIE8 THE TOWN — ADVANCES TO LCRE LoNO- 

8TREET ON. — LoNOSTREET FNTESTS AND ATTACKS — UErULSED. — He-ENT0KCEMENT8 

FROM Grant. — Suekman comes up. — Grant's order. — Sumilary of losses. . 21.3 



CHAPTER XXn. 

GREAT JOY IN THE LAND. 

The President's proclamation. — Public honors. — The gold medal. — A lieu- 
tenant- general proposed. — Societies. — Namesakes. — New labors. — Visits 
Cumberland Gap. — At Nashville. — To Chattanooga. — Visits St. Louis. — 
The banquet. — Thanks of the city 248 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

ELSEWHERE IN THE FIELD. 

The Mississippi. — Banks. — Steele. — Kosecrans. — Our force compared with the 
bebels. — Sherman's e.xpedition to Meridian. — Thomas moves upon Dalton. 
— Seymocb at Olcstee. — One head needed. — No political aspirations.. 255 



CH.VPTER XXTY. 

THE LIEUTENANT-OENER.VL — RETr.oSI'ECT AND PROSPECT. 

Grant LiEiTKNANT-fJfNERAL. — Arrives at Washinoton.— Recoiinized at Wil- 
lard's. — <'oMMi9.«»uiN PRESENTED. — President's address. — Grant's reply.— Ke- 

VIVAL or TOR OR>DE. — WaSHINOTOX, ScOTT, AND UbAKT. — TUB NEW LAW. — 



10 CONTENTS. 

Grant's personal ai-pearakce. — The honor unsolicited. — The country needs 
uiii; — What he had done to earn it. — 1'rospect of RESPoNsiBtLiTV and danger. 
— Will ue succeed? — Unrivalled globy 253 



CHAPTEE XXY. 

THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR. 

Grant's convictions. — Evils to be remedied. — The new plan. — "Phe great the- 
atre—How OCCUPIED. — The rebel armies. — Lee and Johnston. — Our opposing 
ARMIES. — Banks in Virginia. — Directions to General Butlek. — Sigel's in- 
structions 267 



CHAPTER XX^T:. 

PRErAIlA.TIONS FOR THE FINAL CAMPAIGN. 

Grant's announcement to the armies. — At Washington. — The .^rmy of the 
I'oTOM.vc. — General Meade.— The ar.my reorganized. — Fifth Corps — Secont) 
— .Si.xTH. — Tul Ninth Corps. — Thk character of the army. — Grant's staff. 

ilLADK's chief, AND ADJUTANT-GENERAL , 277 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

THE CROSSING OF THE RUBICON. 

All ready.— Grant makes final preparations. — The position of the army. — 
Lee's position. — The roads. — The Wildkrnkss. — Meade's order. — The corps 
move. — 1'lans AND countkrplans. — The RtBtLS come up ln column. — Ewell 

ON OUR RIGHT, BY THK TURNPIKE 2S5 



CHAPTER XXYIII. 

THE BATTLE OF THE "WILDERNESS. 

Orders to Warren and Sedgwick. — The battle-field. — Hancock to the rescue. 
— Genkral attack on the tiTH. — Hancock's encounter.— Second rebel as- 
sault. — Gordon flanks our right. — Grant on tuk field.— Comme.nts.— Losses. 

— DilAWN BATTLE 293 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

ON TO RICHMOND. 

Suspense at t»k North. — Lee's retreat.— Sedgwick killed. — Wright to Sixth 
Coicps. — .\ttaok on Spottsyi.vania. — Hancock's feat of arm*. — The after-bat- 
tle. — OiK losses up to the 12th. — Who ri-.ti;kat8, Grant or Lke?— The 

LAND ahead. — A NEW FLA.SKINO UoVKMENT S04 



CONTENTS. 11 

CHArTEK XXX. 

CO-OPEUATINO MOVEMENTS. 

StiERinAN's K.Mi>.— The battle ok Ykllow Tavekn. — I. K. P.. Stlaut killed.— 
The It mi. Kits ukach the Jamks.— Fokti nes ok Sioel.— Defeated or IWieckin- 
jtiiuiK — I'liTLEu's movements.— Mis hi-hatch. — Heaukeoaku's attack. — II er- 
metkally (.ealko.-Kaitz's kaid.— Stanton's imspatcu.— Bctlek's faillke.— 

IlfiW Tin: WANT uK lO-Ol'KltATMN AKFtCTEK GUANT 820 

tiiAriEil XXXI. 

Fr.OM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO THE CHICILVnOMINY. 

The corps move.— KE-ENFonricMENTS.— Lossks fr.-m May 12 to 21.— On the North 

AjfNA. Withdrawn. — Sheridan's return. — Crossing of the Paminkkt. — 

Change of base.— Sheridan holds Cold IIaiibor.- Los.«es from .May 21 to 
81.— W. K. Smith detached fii<>m Hutler.— The battles of Cold Harbor. 
— The crossing of the Chickaiiominy •'^'^ 

CHAPTER XXXII. 

SOUTH OF THE JAMES. 

The crossing of the James.— Petersburg.— Oili.more retires.— K a utz attack^'. — 
Smith's new assault.— The corps come up rapidly. — Butler moves forward. 
-The new assault on the city— Not successful.— Sheridan's expedition. — 
New movejjknt of the army.— .\oai.vst the Wkldon road.— Deep liorroM.— 
Wilsons raid. — Temporary rest 846 

CHAPTER XXXIII. 

THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY. 

Hunter's instructions.- He be.sts thk enemy.— W. E. Jones killed.— Advancb 
to Lyni-hbuko.— Retreats to the Kanawiia.— What he acC'Mplisiud. — Ix 
what hi. failed. — The route he bhould have taken C'U 

CHAPTER XXXIV. 

THE MINE AT PETERSEl'P.G. 

Grant's divkrsion. — The story of the mine.— Its position.— Lieutenant-Colonel 
Plva-anth. — Description. — E.xcavated undkr difficulties.— .Meade's order. — 
The ku-e lighted.— Fails. — (Gallant men relight it. — Thk delay.— The 
stoicmkks move. — Ledlik, WiLLCO.T, AND Potter. — Ferrero. — The crater. — 
The Court of Inquiry 864 

CHAPTER XXXV. 

THE REBEL ADVANCE ON WASHINGTON. 
Early moves down the Vallky.— Grant sends up the Si.xth and NixErrEvrn. 

WaLLAIE MOVtS. — Is DEFEAThD, BUT DETAINS KaULY. — DtrTRUCTIOX. — WriijIIT 

IN COMMAND.— Early retreats. — The ."»iienamh>ah Valley. — (Jkant visiTa 
UuNTER. — Sheridan— Let loose. — Wunculsti k ■■' I 



12 CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XXXVl. 

AROUND PETERSBURG. 
Cesar Cheek. — Shekidan kides post fr<>m WixruKSTEu. — To the "Weldox road. 

— TUE CATTLE RAID. MOVEMENT ON BOTH FLANKS. — ThE ■WESTWARD MOVEME>T. 

— BcTLKR MOVES. — The Army of the Potomac ix motion. — Tue Dutch Gap 
Canal. — Gregg at Stoney Creek. — Comp.\rative rest S83 

CHAPTER XXXVII. 

OTHER PARTS OF THE GREAT THEATRE. 

SnERMAN. — IIOOD MOVES INTO TkNNESSEE. — GENERAL ThOMAS. — GfNERAL IIoOD. — 

Mobile. — 1'rice invades Missouri. — To Wytueville and Saltville 401 

CHAPTER XXXVin. 

FORT FISHER. 

The troops land. — The bombardment and assault. — Comments. — Wilmington 
falls 403 

CHAPTER XXXIX. 

CONCENTRATION. 

Plans of Sherman. — March ; the strategic usher. — Fort Steadman. — Sheri- 
dan's GRAND MARCH. — ShEKMAN's VISIT. — ThE MOVEMENT TO THE LEFT 418 

CHAPTER XL. 

■tHE TRUE "beginning OF THE END." 

Fioht at Dinwiddie Courthouse. — Battle of Five Forks. — Defeat of the reb- 
els. — Consternation in Richmond. — Its evacuation by Lee. — Pursuit of tub 
fleeing army. — Sailor's Creek. — Lee's surrender. — Terms. — Sherman. — 
Stoneman.— Canby at Mobile. — Wilson's command. — Conclusion 438 

CHAPxJi^R XLI. 

THE lieutenant-general's MILITARY HOUSEHOLD. 

General Rawlins, chief of staff. — Colonel Bowers. — Genehal Comstock. — 
Colonel Babcock. — Colonel Porter. — Colonel Hudson. — I'olunkl Badeau. — 
Colonel Parker. — Major Leet — Caitain Dunn.— General Willi \ms.— Gen- 
eral Webster. — Colonel Lagow. — Chlonel Hillvkr. — Genkhal McPherson. — 
Colonel Rowley. — Colonel Kiooin.— Colonel Ihrie. — Major Prime.— Colonel 
Duff. — General Wilson. — Captain Koss. — General Dent. — General Kent. — 
General Barnard. — Major Kuykendal. — Colonel Dickey. — NL\jok Aupen- 
RiED. — General Smith. — Major II. ('. Kobinette. — Captain D. E. Porter. — 
Lieutenant 1L N. Towner 455 

APPENDIX. 

Official correspondence 473 

Report of Lieutenant (Ieneual Cuant 477 



GUAM AM) Ills CAMPAIGNS. 



CHAPTER I. 

THE GREAT WAR OTENS. 



Rifkin's cannon.— Fukt Simteis.— The effect on the masses.— The Nation mcst 
BE SAVED. — The ATTmuK of the rebels. — Our own dutv clear. — The bcsh to 

/.liil^. — OcR lONORANOB OF WAR. — Thk WANT OF EVERY THING. — TlIE EDUCATION 
NEEDED AND EVENTUALLY ODTAINEI). — OkANT AN AIT SCHOLAR. 

From profoiiiKl peace to civil war ! Iii an instant, with no 
premonitions that we could regard, — so often had tlie threat 
been made, and the promise not made good, — the pot^tical toc- 
sin sounded historically for America in the first gun, fired with 
great joy and gi-atitude by the venerable Edmund Piuffin,* of 
Virginia, against the devoted band of seventy patriot sohliers, 
whom, by a providential policy, and in spite of an efi'ete ad- 
ministration, Major Robert Anderson had placed in Fort 
Sumter. This was a strong work of the United States, built 
with government money on government property, in Charles- 
t«ni harbor, for the occupation of which South Carolina, even 
after her unlawful secession, had not even the shadow of a 
State-rights' claim. Foul as was the deed, it was needed to 
awake the nation to its self-respect and self-preservation. The 

♦ " The first shot at Fort Siimtor. from Stevens' Battery, wns firetl by the 
venerable Eilmund HufTin, of Virginia."— JVt-w York Herald, April 13, 18G1. 
On the 20th of Juno, ISim, tliis vonemble pcntloman, (lisi,'u.st<'<l at the downfall 
of the cause of which lu" had fired the biguul-ijun blow out his brains : he cer- 
tuiulv made two reiuarkablo shots. 



14 GR^LN'T AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

loyal masses rose at the sound. Men of all social gi-acles, all 
occupations, almost all shades of jDolitics, felt that the crisis, 
long prophesied, but never fully expected, had indeed come ; 
and that the nation must now and at once awake, arise, or be 
forever fallen. Supine before, only anxious to avert the horrid 
scourge of a desolating civil war, many true patriots would 
have been held back by sentiments of humanity from proceed- 
ing to extremities with the rebeUious States ; and had not the 
Sumter cowardice been perpetrated, we might still have been 
ruled by a Southern oligarchy, representing neither the best 
men nor the masses of the South, and we would have been 
subjected to the vaporings and hectoriugs with which South 
Carolina regaled the country for so many years, until the sub- 
version of our Government, undertaken in some other more 
prudent and pohtic manner, should have occurred. 

The gage of battle thus thrown down was the best thing for 
the United States Government. It placed the seceding States, 
by their own action, out of the pale of the constitution. They 
had said : " We ask no rights from you ; we declare the Union 
dissolved ; the constitution, for us, annulled ; we will maintain 
our own rights." It put us, too, in our true position, as men 
contending no longer for a dogma or a whim, but for the sal- 
vation of the country. Every true patriot, even though he 
had been a pro-slavery democrat, found now no longer South- 
ern fi'iends to aid in what they considered the maintenance 
of their legal rights ; but Southern traitors and armed rebels 
to conquer, and cither bring back to their allegiance, or de- 
stroy, root and branch, "\ntli all the causes and all the institu- 
tions whence the treason and the rebelUon had sprung. Their 
armies were to be beaten, their territory retaken, their prop- 
erty confiscated, and finally, if necessary, their slaves eman- 
cipated. This was, from the first, the true and simple logic of 
the war ; and to this, as the alternative of victory, the rebels 
set their seal and subscription when the venerable Edmund 
Euffin fired the first gim at Fort Sumter. Of course they ex- 
pected to succeed ; but failing of tliis, they had a right to ex- 
^pect nothing less than what has happened. 



Till'. (.IM'.AT WAi: Ol'ENS. 15 

The revorlxM-ation dl" Kutlins cannon wont rollint^' over tlm 
land. It K'iiped th(> I>Iuo lli(l^'t^ scrt'anicd throngh its wild 
passes, traversed tlic valli ys of trilmtai y streams, and i>onn(l 
in unabated tliundt-r-tones upon the banks of the Mississippi. 
Everywhere it roused tlie jiatriots to action. The country 
sprang to its feet. The whole nation, but yesterday a people 
of compromisers and deprecators of civil Avar, now flew to 
arms. Volunteering was the order of the day : the enthusiasm 
was unbounded. Old men, with spectacles, and in unsightly 
jackets, nearly killed themselves at nightly home-guard drills 
in academies of music, concert-rooms, and town-halls ; small 
boys formed light-infantry companies ; women made haver- 
sacks and havelocks — the latter of no earthly use except to 
awaken, or rather keep alive, a spirit of patriotic labor ; and 
men, in the bloom of youth and prime of manhood, flocked to 
the rendezvous to take the field. 

It is true we did not know how to fight : we had no generals 
to lead us, except some old relics of our former wars. That 
fine old veteran, General Scott, had passed his seventieth 
year, and, from the effects of old wounds, was in no condition 
to take the field. Our army was but " the skeleton of the Forty- 
eighth," an army only in name ; our volunteers were willing, 
but entirely ignorant ; our regiilars had not been drilled at 
brigade manoeu\Tes, and the officers knew little about them. 
In most cases, before the war, there were not sufficient troops 
at the garrison posts to drill at battalion manoeuvi*es. No one 
knew how extensive the theatre of war was to be : on what a 
scale the rebels had been preparing to carry it on : what wo 
should need in the way of an army, of .supplies and munitions 
of war. We were certain of one thing ; and that was, that we 
wei'e deficient in every thing. Even the strategic features of 
the country — unlik(! those of Europe, where every little riAnilet 
and mountain-spur has hvon f<iught over, and has its military 
place in history — had never been studied. Perhaps it was in- 
cident to this state of tilings that statesmen spoke oracularly 
of "no war," or "one efi'tH-tive ])low," or "sixty days," for 
which to discoxint the struggle. But in s]>ito of their predic- 



16 GRA\T AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

tions the storm grew apace, and, in the midst of obscurity, \re 
blundered on in ignorant and absurd experiments. Speak but 
of a man who could aid us, suggest a hero, and the people 
turned to him with the blind worship of helpless fear. Not 
what he had done, but what he was going to do, made him il- 
lustrious : he was already a new incarnation of the god of war ; 
a second Napoleon come to battle. It is both needless and 
useless now to demonstrate how unjust this was to those thus 
bepraised, and Avliat .sore humiliation it Avas to bring upon the 
worshippers. But there was no calm judgment then ; the 
danger was imminent, the need urgent, the fear great. At 
last the lightning fell, and Bull Bun was followed by a horror 
of great darkness over the land, — the darkest hour before the 
dawn. 

The truth is, there was no man at that time in America who 
could grasp the colossal problem ; no man on either side. We 
were babes in military practice ; our armies and our generals 
needed education from the very elementary. principles, and 
especially that education of disasters which Marmont declares 
to be the very best of all. The Grant of Belmont could not 
have fought the battle of Pittsburg Landing ; and it needed 
the practice of Yicksburg and Chattanooga to tit him for the 
terrible struggles of the campaign from the Bapidan. 

Months and years passed, and we became gradually enlight- 
ened ; our troops became veterans, and our leaders, when the 
lists were carefully sifted, became generals. None arc now 
invested with honors who have not fully earned them ; and 
we stand to-day at the open portals of that glorious peace 
which our defenders have achieved, ready to accord to them 
intelligent praise in proportion to their real merits. And thus 
we reach the life of Lieutenant-General Grant, one of the 
many who rushed to the field when Butlui's cannon sounded 
the alarm — a graduate of West Point, educated, indeed, as a 
subordinate olhcor, but not as a general ; to be educated as a 
general in and by the war. His career, beginning with the 
Sumter gun, is in its( If an ipitoinc of ilif wiw, and marks its 
grandest epoch, when armed rebellion threw down its weapons, 



THE GREAT WAR OPENS. 17 

and tlie country, moro by his power than by that of any other 
individual man, stood new-born, with a giant's strength, and, 
in the often quoted words of Curran, never clsewhero so 
appHcablo, "redeemed, regenerated, and disenthralled, by 
the irresistible genius of universal emancipation." 



18 GRANT AJS'D HIS CAMPAIGNS. 



CHAPTER n. 

CHILDHOOD AND CADET LIFE. 

Grant's lineage. — The new school of bioorapht. — His parentaoe akd BiRTn- 
PLACE. — Ills name. — Stories of his toctii. — Limited education. — ArroiNTMEN7 
to the Military Academt. — IIis scholarship. — Classm.vtes. — Recollectioxs of 
HIM while a c.vdet. — Tile germs of character. — He graduates. 

Grant was a truo autoclitlion, a son of the soil, heir to no 
splendid heritage, but to the nobility of labor. His early his- 
tory needs but little comment. Born of respectable parents 
to the honorable sturdy hfe of the West, he needs no exhibi- 
tion of long descent to inaugurate his history. If Napoleon 
could rebuke the genealogist who was creating for him a ped- 
igree, with the words, " Friend, my patent dates from Monte 
Notte," Grant may claim his American nobility fi'om Fort 
Donelson. 

On the one hand, all efforts to establish an aristocratic de- 
scent and a remarkable childhood for such a man are dis- 
honest and absurd ; and, on the other hand, all attempts to 
make his antecedents very humble and his chilelliood veiy 
hard, in order to exalt his after-life, are disgusting. The one 
is absurdly European, and the other belongs to the " new 
American school of biogi-aphy," the tendency of which is to 
make hoys despise their fathers, that they may the more thor- 
oughly respect themselves.* 

We may, however, place on record what is truthfully known 
of his family and childhood, being sure that there is noth- 

* Seo an excellent article, by Gail Hamilton, in " Skirmishes and Sketches," 
in which, with the vindictiveness of Ilorod, she slaughters the "Bobbin Boys," 
" Ferry Boys," " Errand Boys," " Tanner Boys," etc., etc. Let \is hope she 
baa killed all the " innocents." 



CITILDIIOOI) AND ("ADF.T LIFE. 10 

inp; in Grant's past upon -whicli lio does not look witli lionest 
prido. 

His fatlior Mas Jesse K. Grant, the descendant of a Scottish 
family, first represented in this country by two brothers, who 
emij^ratod to what were then the American colonies early in 
the eighteenth century, of whom one setthxl in Canada, and 
the other in New Jersey. Jesse Grant, who comes from the 
New Joi-sey branch, was born in Westmoreland County, Penn- 
sylvania, in 1791. In 1805, his father died, and Jesse, then 
an oq)han of eleven years, was apprenticed to a tanner. Wo 
need not trace the wanderings of Jesse Grant, with his mother 
and family, from Penns3-lvania to Maysville, in Kentucky, 
then to Eavenna, thence to Ohio. The country was in a dis- 
ordered state by reason of British intrigue Avith Indian bar- 
barity ; in many parts the climate was unhealthy, and so we 
find him, after many changes to better his lot, residing at 
Point Pleasant, Clermont County, Ohio. 

Grant's mother was Hannah Simpson, the daiighter of John 
Simpson. She was born in Montgomery County, Pennsyl- 
vania ; but removed with her father and family to Clermont 
County, Ohio, in 1818, where, in June, 1821, she mamed Jesse 
R. Grant. Ten months after, on the twent^'-seventh of April, 
1822, their first child, known to the world as Ulysses Simpson 
Grant,* was l)orn in a small one-story cottage, still standing 
on the banks of the Ohio, commanding a view of the river and 
of the Kentucky shore. 

From what we know of Grant's parents — the probity, energy, 
and hard labor of his father ; the consistent Christian charac- 
ter, kind heart, and devotion to her family displayed by his 
excellent mother — we have another beautifid illustration of the 
moral heritage of children, and another proof that God shows 
mercy and gives great reward to them that love Him, to many 
generations. 

• Ilis father tells us that his name vrna Iliram I'li/tnitji, but that liia radct 
warrant was made out f<ir Ulyssta Sidnry ; that he aca-ptt-d the name while 
at West Point, only changing it to Ulysses Sivipaon, in honor of his mother, 
when he graduated. 



20 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

Many stories are told, of course, exhibiting the sturdy 
character of young Grant, and his resources under difficulties, 
but none betokening, in a remarkable degree, the character 
of his future career. It is said that, upon proper occasion, he 
could be pugnacious ; that he -sN-as not outwitted in a bargain ; 
and that he contrived means of overcoming difficulties which 
would have checked other boys. In the same way, the 
biographers of Napoleon have found the types of his after-life 
in his lording it over his elder brother Joseph, and in his 
bravery in attacking snow forts. 

Grant was sturdy, strong, and cool, as many other boys are ; 
but up to the time of his first entering into service, no events 
or actions of his life were the heralds of his present greatness. 
The qualities undoubtedly were there, but latent ; and of what 
has evoked them in most men, ambition, he seems to have 
none. 

The education of the boy was quite hmited, like that of most 
Western boys in moderate circumstances. There was hard 
work to do, in which the son must help the father, and so it was 
only ia the midwinter months that he could attend the village 
school. What he learned, however, he learned well ; and he 
acquired with the elements of knowledge, not only a basis, 
but, what is of far more importance, an ardent desire for a full 
education. 

By the time Grant was seventeen. West Point had acquired 
great fame throughout the country ; it was known by its finiits ; 
its eleves were gentlemen of high education and noble bearing. 
In civic life they w^ere eagerly sought after to take the lead in 
railway engineering and industrial pursuits. They were the 
chief nu>n in all militia organizations ; indeed, the military 
knowledge of the country was almost as much coutiued to them 
as the esoteric meaning of the Eg}'ptian mysteries had formerly 
been to the priests, it was also knoA\-u that there a boy, with- 
out the necessary means, could obtain the best education 
which the country could afford, not gratuitously, but more 
than that — ho would be paid for learning, trained and main- 
tained as a gentleman, and would receive at the last a high. 



nill.DIIOOD AND CADKT LIFE. 21 

flclf-sust.iiiiinc; position — -a commission in tlio army. To such 
a youth as (riant, it ofTcnd a splendid clianco ; and so appli- 
cation was made to the Honorable Thomas L. Hamor, of 
Grant's con^'ressional district, who ^avo liim the appoint- 
ment. Thus, with a ^ood basis of hard, self-reliant, and eager 
boyhood, he was admitted to the preUmiuary examination, 
and entered the Mihtary Academy on the first of July, 1839.* 
Such are the details, which would have had no importance 
whatever liad it not been for sulisequent events. 

Even a step further we may follow him withcnit any tempta- 
tion to worship the incipient hero. His scholarship at West 
Point was respectable, and no more. He went through the 
entire course, hke his classmates, no cadet being allowed any 
option. I- From September t< June, the cmlets are in barracks, 
studying, riding, and fencing, in the riding-hall, and, in fine 
weather, drilling in the afternoons at infantry : from June to 
September, they encamp upon the plain, and their time is 
entirely employed in drills of every kind, guard duty, p\To- 
techny, and practical engineering. 

In his cadet studies, Grant had something to contend with, 
in the fact of his own lack of early preparation, and the 
superior preparation of most of his competitors, who had been 
over a part of the course before they entered. Among these 
were William B. Frankhn, who stood at the head of the class ; 
Roswell 8. Ripley, not famous for his " History of the Mexi- 
can War" (written in the interest of General Pillow, and to 
injure General Scott), but (juite infamous for firing with great 
rapidity upon the burning Sumter, which the devoteil garrison 
were trying to extinguish ; Rufus Ingalls, the excellent quarter- 
master-general of the Army of the Potomac ; Joseph J. Rey- 
nolds, late commander in Arkansas ; Christopher C. Augur, 
long in command at Washington ; the rebel General Franklin 
Gardner, who surrendered Port Hudson to Banks when Grant 



* The prdiniinary pxamination is extrcmply simple— reading, gpeUing, 
writing, and arithmetic through decimal fractions. 

f In our day. it was only the firnt section of each class who learned Bome- 
thing more than was rtxjuinxl i>f the real. 



22 GRANT A^D HIS GAilPAIQNS. 

had taken Vicksburg ; and others, to whom we design no dis- 
credit by not mentioning them. Thirty-nine of the one hun- 
dred and more Avho had been appointed in 1839, gi-aduated in 
1843. Grant was the independent middle-man, twenty-first 
on the Ust. 

The honor of being his comrade for two years at the Academy 
enables me to speak more inteUigently, perhaps, than those of 
" the new school," who have invented the most absurd stories 
to illustrate his cadet-life. I remember him as a plain, com- 
mon-sense, straight-forward youth ; quiet, rather of the old 
head on young shoulders order ; sliunuiug notoriety ; quite 
contented, while others were ginimbling ; taking to his military 
duties in a very business-hko manner ; not a prominent man 
in the corps, but respected by :.r\ and very popular with his 
fiiends. His sobriquet of i/-r7-. '<am was given to him there, 
where every good-fellow has a nickname, from tliese very 
qualities ; indeed, he was a very uncle-like sort of a youth. 
He was then and always an excellent horseman, and his 
picture rises before me as I write, in the old torn coat,* obso- 
lescent leather gig-top, loose riding pantaloons, with spurs 
buckled over them, going with his clanking sabre to the drill- 
hall. He exhibited but Httle enthusiasm in any thing : his 
best standing was in the mathematical branches, and their 
application to tactics and mihtary engineering. 

If we again dwell upon the fact that no one, even of his 
most intimate friends, dreamed of a great future for him, it is 
to add that, looking back now, we must confess that the 
possession of many excellent quahties, and tlie entii-e absence 
of all low and mean ones, estabhsh a logical sequence from 
first to last, and illustrate, in a novel manner, the poet's fancy 
about — 

" The baby figures of the giant mass 
Of things to come at large," 



• Riding-jackets, il we remember rij:rhtly, had not then been issued, and 
the cadets always wore their seediest rig into the sweat and dust of the riding- 
drill. 



CniLDIIOOD AND CADiri' LIFE. 23 

tho germs of those qualities which are found in beautiful com- 
bination in Wordsworth's " Happy Warrior :" 

" Tho generous spirit who, wlnn broui^ht 
Among tho tasks of real litV, Imth wroiipht 
Upon tho plan that pleased hiH infant thoupht." 

And at this point of view, as wc find tho Western l)oy, after 
tho compacting, instructing, developing processes of West 
Point, coming forth a man, ready for the stem realities of 
American life, we may pause to point him out to our American 
youth as an example henceforth to bo followed ; then, as now, 
a character which, in the words of a friend, " betrayed no 
trust, falsified no word, violated no rights, manifested no 
tyranny, sought no personal aggrandizement, complained of 
no hardship, displayed no jealousy, oppressed no subordinate ; 
but, in whatever sphere, protected every interest, upheld his 
flag, and was ever known by his humanity, sagacity, courage, 
and honor." What more can be claimed for any young man ? 
What for the greatest of captains ? 

He left West Point as brevet second-heutenaut in the Fourth 
Infantry ; and with his army life we begin another chapter in 
his history. 



24 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 



CHAPTER ni. 

AEMY LIFE AND RETIREMENT FROM SERVICE. 

Bbevet secoxd-liectenant Fourth Infantry. — Goes to Corpus Christi. — At 
Palo Alto and Eesaca de la Palma.— At Monterey.— At Vera Cruz.— Eeoi- 
iiKNTAL QUARTERMASTER.- Fights at Moling and Chapultepec— Mentioned ik 
reports and brevetted captain. — At close of war sent to the Northkkn 
raoNTiER.— Marries.- Off to Oregon. — Hard work.— Le.vther-dealer. 

On the 1st of July, 1843, Grant began liis army service as 
brevet second-lieutenant in the Fourth Infantry. Tlie expla- 
nation of this is, that there being no vacancy in the infantry 
arm, all graduated cadets are thus attached, in the order of 
merit, to regiments, as supernumerary officers, each to await 
a vacancy in his turn. The regiment was then at Jefferson 
Barracks, near St. Louis, Missouri ; but, in the summer of 
1844, it was removed to Natchitoches, Louisiana, and as the 
Mexican plot thickened, in 1845, it was sent to Corpus Christi, 
to watch the Mexican army then concentratmg upon the 
frontier. Grant was made a fuU sccc^nd-Heutenant in the 
Seventh Regiment, on the 30th of September, 1845. But he 
had formed an attachment for the Fourth, and applied to re- 
main in it : this was granted by the War Department. He 
was fortunate enough to be at Palo Alto and Resaca, May 6 
and 7, 184G — the trial fights of the American army against a 
civilized enemy, after thirty years of peace ; and he participated 
in the bloody battle of Monterey, September 23, 1846. His 
regiment was soon after called away from General Taylor's 
command, to join General Scott in liis splendid campaign from 
Vera Cruz to Mexico, two hundred and seventy-two miles in 
the heart of the enemy's country. He was at the siege and 
capture of Vera Cruz, March 29, 1847 ; and on April 1, pre- 
paratory to the advance, he was appointed regimental quarter- 



ARMY LIFE .\ND UETIREMENT FIIOM SERVICE 25 

master, a post wliit-li ho held duriii}^' the rcmaiudcr of the w:ir. 
It is a ])osition rociuiiing system and patience, and drawing a 
small additional pay ; it is usually conferred upon some solid, 
energctie, painstaking oflBcer, not necessarily one remarkable 
for dash and valor. Being in charge of the regimental 
equipage and trains, the quartermaster may, without impro- 
priety, remain with these during actual V)attle, as we have 
known many to do. It is thi'R>fore recorded, as gi'eatly to 
the praise of Grant, that he always joined his regiment in 
battle, and shared their fighting. At Moliuo del Rev, Septem- 
ber 8, 1847, he was distinguished, and was brevetted first- 
lieutenant for his services. This brevet, however, owing to the 
fact of his becoming a full first-lieutenant by the casualties of 
that battle, he declined. At Chapultepec, September 13, 
1847, Grant joined, with a few of his men, some detachments 
of the Second Artillery, under Captain Horace Brooks, in an 
attack on the enemy's breastworks, served a mountain howit- 
zer- and hastened the enemy's retreat, and " acquitted himself 
most nobly under the observation" of his regimental, brigade, 
and division commanders.* 

For this action Grant received the brevet of captain for 
•' gallant and meritorious conduct," awarded in 1849, but not 
confirmed until 1850. 

His first-lieutenancy dated fi'om September 16^ 1847. It 
must not be supposed that these services during the Mexican 
war are now dressed up to assimilate with liis after-career. 
He was reaUy distingoiished in that war above most of those 
of his own rauk.t 



♦ See Qcnoml Worth's, Lieutcnnnt-Coloncl Garland's, and Major Francis 
Ijoe's reports of that battle. 

f During' <'>ir residence at the capital I heard a "horse-story " about Grant 
which ha.s not apju-ared in the books, but which is, at least, true. Ho wa-n nn 
adminible hor^-man, and had a very spirited horse. A Mexican pentleninn, 
with whom he was ujKin friendly U.'rms, asked the loan of his horse. Grant 
•aid afterwards, " I was afraid he coald not ride him, and yet I kn.w if I said 
a word to that effect, the guspicions Spanish nature would think I did not wish 
to lend him. " Tlie result was. that tlie Mexican mounted him, was thrown 
before he had gone two blocks, and kille<l on the 6[>oU 



26 GRAIVT AND HIS CA^dPAIGNS. 

Upon the close of the war bj the treaty promulgateJ in 
April, 1848, the Fourth Infantry Avas sent first to Noav YorL, 
and then to the Northern fi'ontier, and for some time Grant 
served in the command of his company, first at Detroit, and 
then at Sackett's Harbor. 

In August, 1848, he married Miss Dent, sister of his class- 
mate, Frederick J. Dent, who resided in St. Louis. 

Incident to the acquisition of California and the wonderful 
discoveries of gold, troops were more necessary on our West- 
em coast than elsewhere, to protect the emigi-ants and the new 
Pacific settlements fi'om the depredations of the Indians. The 
Fourth Infantry was therefore ordered to Oregon, in the 
autumn of 1851, and one battahon, with which brevet Ca2:)taui 
Grant was serving, was ordered to Fort Dallas, where he saw 
some serAdce against the Indians. 

After a two years' absence from his family, and with but 
little prospect of promotion in those " dull and piping times 
of peace," Grant having been promoted to a full captamcy in 
August, 1853, resigned his commission in July 31, 1851, and 
set forth to commence life anew as a citizen. That he tried 
many shifts does not betoken a fickle or volatile nature, but 
simply the invention which is born of necessity. As a smaU 
farmer, near St. Louis, and a dealer in wood, he made a pre- 
carious living :* as a money collector he did no more, ha^•ing 
neither the nature to buUy nor the meanness to wheedle the 
debtors. He could not 

" Crook the pregnant hinges of the knee. 
That thrift may follow fawning." 



* I visited St. Loais at this time, and remember with pleasure, that Grant, 
in hifl fanner rig, whip Ln hand, came to see mo at the hotel, where were 
Joseph J. Reynolds, then professor, now major-general. General (then Major) D. 
C. Buell, and Major Chapman of the cavalry. If Grant had ever ust-d spirits, 
as is not imlikely, I distinctly remoniber that, upon the proposal being made U) 
drink. Grant said, " I will go in and look at you, for I never drink any thing ;" 
and the other officers who saw him frequently, afterwards told mo that he 
drank nothing but water. 



AIJMY LIFE AND HKTIREMHNT I'llOM SHUVICR 27 

Ho is said also to Ikivd played tho auctioneer ; l)ut in this 
braiuli, niilc ss ho made lougor speeches than ho has since 
done, he could achieve no success. 

In 1859 ho entered into jiartncrship with his fatlur, who 
had been prosperous in tho tanninp; business, in a new leather 
and saddlery store in Galena, Illinois, Here, in a place which 
had a }j;rowing . trade with Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota, 
tho industry, good sense, and honesty of Grant did at length 
achieve a certain and honorable success, and, had tho rebellion 
not broken out, he would have had a local reputation in tho 
linn of Grant &. Son, as an admirable judge of leather, perhaps 
mayor of Galena, with a thoroughly wcll-mcnded sidewalk, 
visited always with pleasure by his old army fi'iends travelling 
westward, but never heard of by tho public. His gi'oatest 
success had been achieved in the army ; his Mexican expe- 
rience gave glimpses of a future in that Une ; he needed only 
opportunity, and ho was to have it abundantly. Here, then, 
wo mark a new epoch in his life — a sudden plunge, unex- 
pected and unheralded — 

"Tlie torrent's smootlmess ero it daah below." 



28 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 



CHAPTER IV. 

BELMONT. 

Eftect of the news on Grant. — A Democrat bkfoue the war. — An vwqvazjtxxd 
WAR-MAN NOW. — Raises a company. — Adjutant-general and mu-stkrino officer. — 
Colonel of the Twenty-first Illinois.— Makohks.— Actinq brigadier at Cairo. 
— The value of Cairo. — The rkbkl strategy. — Expedition to Belmont. — Frk- 
mont's orders — Polk at CoLfMBr.*. — The battle. — Sdccess. — Enemy be-en- 
forced. — Grant withdraws. — Comments. 

It may be easily conceived liow the treacliery of Southern 
leaders, the secession of South Carolina, and the bombard- 
ment of Fort Sumter affected Grant. A decided Democrat 
before the war, he had, in his limited sphere, been in favor of 
conceding to the South all its rights, perhaps more ; but -when 
the struggle actually began, his patriotism and mihtary ardor 
were aroused together. As a patriot, he was determined to 
support his Government and uphold his flag ; and as a soldier, 
he saw opening before him a career of distinction for which 
he had been educated, and in which he had already, in some 
degree, distinguished himself. In May he raised a company 
in his own neighborhood, and marched with it to Springfield, 
the place of rendezvous. It was not long before Governor 
Yates, to whom he had been recommended by a member of 
Congress from his State, made use of Grant's experience in 
organizing the State troops. He was appointed adjutant- 
general of the State, and proceeded to the difficult task of 
mustering the three-mouths' men, which, amid much confu- 
sion, he accomphshed by his indefatigabk' energy. While on 
a brief visit to his father, at Covington, Kentucky, Grant re- 
ceived a commission from tlie governor as colonel of the 
Twenty-first Illinois Volunteers, three-months' men. They 
subsequently cnhsted, owing to their confidence in liim, one 



BElJtfUNT. -J:) 

thonsaiul strwii;^', for tlircf years" service. Grunt's lirst cou- 
cern wiis to ihill aiitl (lisci])lme his rcKimont, wliicli soon be- 
came marked for its excellent order. Removing them from 
their ])l:iee of organization, Matoon, Illinois, to Caseyville, he 
sui)erintended their drill ; and, not long after, he marched 
them, in default of railroad transportation, one hundred and 
twenty miles, to Quincy, on the Mississippi, whieli was sup- 
posed to be in danger. Thence he moved, under orders, to 
defend the line of the Hannibal and Hudson Railroad, from 
Hannibal and Quincy, on the Mi.ssissippi, to St. Jo.-;.ph ; and 
here comfaig into contact with other regiments, his military 
knowledge and experience pointed to him, although the 
youngest colonel, as the commander of the combined forces. 
As acting brigadier-general of this force, his headquarters, on 
the 31st of July, 18G1, were at Mexico, Missom-i. We need 
not detail the marches of Grant's regiments in the " District 
of Northern Missouri" — as General Pope's command was 
called — to Pilot Knob, and Ii'onton, and Jefferson City, to de- 
fend the river against the projected attacks of Jeff. Thomp- 
son. In August he received his commission as brigadier- 
general of volimteers, to date fi'om May 17. He was seven- 
teenth in a list of thirty-four original appointments of that 
date. He was ordered to proceed to Cairo, and there, with 
two brigades, he took command of the important strategic 
tciTitory entitled " The District of Southeast Missouii," in- 
cluding both banks of the Mississippi River, from Cape Girar- 
deau to New Madrid, and on the Ohio it included the whole 
of "Western Kentucky. A glance at the map discloses the 
strategic importance of Cairo, as a base of operations for a 
southern advance, and of vital importance in the line of de- 
fence for the extensive and rich country lying between the 
Ohio and the Mississippi. It is especially viiluable for river 
expeditions, the transportation of suppUes, and the eiiuipment 
of a gunboat fleet. The parallel flow of the Tennessee and 
Cumberland northward into the Ohio also includes a most 
important portion of West Kentucky, which Grant saw at a 
tilance was to become the scene of immediate hostiiitioiJ. 



30 GRANT AND HIS CAlfPAIGNS. 

Grant was now in his element ; lie not only accomplished 
with alacrity what he was ordered to do, but he made work 
for his troops. He at once displayed that energy which he 
has never abated for an instant duruig the war. 

The attempted and absurd neutrahty of Kentucky was one- 
sided ; it was to keep Union troops away and let rebels 
attack.* The latter were not slow in availing themselves of 
this privilege. Seizing, first Hickman, and then Columbus 
and Bowhng Green, and foi-tifving the Tennessee at Fort 
Henry, and the Cumberland at Fort Donelson, they estab- 
Hshed a first strong line fi-om the Mississippi to Virginia in 
the " neutral" State of Kentucky.t Grant followed their lead 
in sending, on the 6th of September, a strong force to Padu- 
cah, where the Tennessee empties into the Ohio, under com- 
mand of General C. F. Smith, much to the chagrin of the 
secessionists there, who were awaiting a rebel force. In the 
same manner he occupied Smith] and, near the mouth of the 
Cumberland, and thus made two vital moves in the game 
in which he was to cry checkmate at Fort Donelson. These 
points were also valuable to the rebels as gateways of sup- 
pKes. From the places now occvipied, Grant at once busied 
himself in making numerous reconnoissances in every direc- 
tion, until at length he was ready to try his " 'prentice hand" 
upon the rebels. When all was ready, he moved down the 
river to Belmont, opposite Columbus, and there the first 
battle took place. The origin of that movement may be 
thus briefly stated. 

General Fremont, under date November 1, ISGl, directed 
Grant to make demonstrations " along both sides of the river 



* And yet this neutrality was reproached by the rebels. See Pollard's " First 
Year of the War," p. IW. 

f On the 5th of September, Grant informed Fremont by telegram tliat the 
rebels had invaded the State, and that lie was " nearly ready for Paducab, 
should not a telegram arrive preventing the movement." Receiving no word 
from Fremont, he left Cairo on the night of the 5tb, and occupied Paducab on 
the morning of the Gtb. On the same day bo published a dear, patriotic, and 
humane prochimation to the citizens. 



BELMONT. .jl 

tovrards Charleston, Norfolk, and Blandvillo." On tl.e 2d, ho 
was thus inl'ornitHl by Fremont : " Jcfl'. Thompson is at In- 
dian's Ford of the St. Francois River, twenty-five miles below 
Grt'onvillc, with about three tliousand men. Colonel Carlin 
lias startod witli a force from Pilot Knob. Send a form from 
Capo CJirardcau and Bird's Point to assist Carlin in <lrivinf^' 
Thompson into Arkansas." Incident to these instructi«ms, 
Grant sent Colonel Oglesby, Avith the Eighth Illinois, four 
companies of the Eleventh Illinois, the whole of the Eighteenth 
>md Twenty -ninth, and three companies of cavalry, to go to 
Commerce, Missouri, thence to Sikeston, and i)ursuo Jeff. 
Thompson (in conjunction with a force from Ironton). On 
the 5th he was informed that Polk Avas re-enfcncing Price's 
army from Columbus. In this complication of circumstances 
he determuied to threaten Columbus and attack Belmont. 
Oglesby Avas deflected to New Madrid, and Colonel W. H. L. 
Wallace sent to re-enforce him. The object of the attack then 
was to cut otr the rebel hne in Kentucky frona Price's forces 
in Missouri, and also to keep Polk from interfering A\ith the 
detachments Grant had sent out in pursuit of Jell". Thompson. 
Grant du'ccted General C. F. Smith to make a demonstration 
upon Columbus fi'om Paducah, and then himself sent doAvn a 
small force on the Kentucky side to Ellicott's Mills, about 
twelve miles fi-om Columbus. Having taken these precau- 
tions to deceive the enemy, he embarked his expetlitionary 
force at Cairo on the Gth of November — three thousand one 
hundred and fom-teen men,* chiefly Illinois volunteers, with 
the Seventh loAva, upon four boats, convoyed by the gunboats 
Lexington, Captain Stembel, and Tyler, Captam Walker, the 
gunboats in advance. Moving Avith due caution, they reached 
Island No. 1, eleven miles above Cohunbus, that night, and 
lay against the Kentucky shore. It Avas then he heard that 
Polk Avas crossmg troops to Belmont to cut off Oglesby. The 



♦ McaiTnancl'8 brigndo (Twenty-seventh. Thirtieth. Thirty-first Illinois) with 
cavalry. rKiuirliertyBbriffade ^Twenty -second lllinuiB, Seventh Iowa;. — Grant's 
Bccucd Riport, June "JiJ, isG-i. 



32 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

next morning lie moved to Hunter's Point, two miles above 
Belmont, on the Missouri shore, where his troops were landed 
and formed into column of attack. 

The rebel forces at Columbus were commanded by Major- 
General Leonidas Polk, a bishop of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church, the purity of whose la^n is forever stained with blood 
cb-awn by carnal weapons ; a weak but brave man, but one 
whose West Point education was at least worth something to the 
rebel cause. Polk had posted a small force on the right bank, 
to keep open his communications ; and, as soon as he had wind 
of Grant's movement, and Smith's demonstration to Maysfield, 
he expected an attack on Columbus, or at least in Kentucky. 
Indeed, until the close of the engagement, he apprehended an 
attack in his rear. 

Grant's movement took him somewhat by siu'prise. From 
the point of debarkation, one battalion having been Mt as a 
reserve near the transports, tlie troops were marched by flank 
towards Belmont, and drawn up in line of battle about a mile 
from Belmont. Skirmishers were then thrown forward, who 
soon encountered Colonel Tappan's rebel force, consisting of 
three regiments, re-enforced by Pillow witli three more, and 
the general engagement took place. Deploying his entire 
force as skii-mishers, Grant drove the enemy back, fighting 
from tree to tree, for about two miles, until he reached the 
intrenched camp jirotected by slashed timber as .in abatis. 
In rear of this, opposing oui' left, were the Thirteenth Arkansas 
and the Ninth Tennessee ; and on the. right was Beltzhoover's 
battery of seven gims and Colonel Wright's regiment. This did 
not check our impetuous advance. Charging over the obstacle 
with great ardor, our men tbove the enemy to the river-bank, 
and many of them into then* transports, and we were in posses- 
sion of every thing.* But as Belmont is on low ground, en- 

* The rebel excuse is, tlint they were out of ammunition ; good, but not new. 
Pollard says : " In this movement Pillow's line was more or less broken, and 
his corps mingled together, so that when they reached the river-bank they 
had the appearance of a mass of men, rather than an organized cori^."— First 
Tear. p. 201. 



BELMONT. 83 

tircly comiiiaiuU'd l>y i\n' {^iiiis from Columbus, it was manifoHt 
that the ground thus gained could not ho held, mid tli<r(;f(jro 
Grant fired the ont'UiiipiiK^ut, huniing tents, i)l;jiik<'ts, and 
stores, and began his return movement with captured artillery, 
prisoners, and horses. But the end of our siiccess on the field 
had been attained. Major-General Polk, who was now (piito 
ahve to the situation, directed his heaviest guns from Colum- 
bus upon our troops. He had abeady sent oven* three* regi- 
ments in one body, under General Pillow ; these were sup- 
ported by three others, under General Cheatham, which 
landed some distance above, between our soldiers and the 
boats. Further to crush Grant's small force, the bishop, al- 
though sadly afraid of an attack on his rear at Columbus, took 
over two additional regiments in person to aid Pillow's ^)anic- 
stricken force. But by this time Grant was in retreat to his 
boats, and only faced to the right and rear to punish Cheats 
ham's flankers, and a portion of Pillow's under Colonel Marks, 
who had marched up the river-bank, and endeavored to prevent 
his retiu-n to the boats. In that retreat we suffered ver}- 
severely, our troops being hard pressed by overpowering 
numbers. At five in the afternoon Grant's force had re- 
embarked, and were on their way to Cairo, while the rebels, 
checked by the fire of our gunboats, glared Ukc batHed tigers, 
and went back to their smoking camp. We had left two 
caissons, but had brought oflf two guns of Be/tzhoover's bat- 
tery. We had eiglity-five killed, three hundrtnl and one 
(many slightly) wounded, and aboxit ninety-nine missing. 
The gunboats, whose duty was primarily to cover the landing 
and protect the transports, and also, as far as possible, to 
engage the Columbus batteries, performed their service to 
General Grant's entire satisfaction. The Confederate loss 
was six hundred and thirty-two. t Both parties claimed a vic- 
tory, but on the recovery of the field and the pursuit of our 
retiring columns the rebels base their claims to a success, 



* Pollard Bays four regiments, but we give the rebels the benefit of clergj, 
as the bishop says (hre<'. 

f Pollard, " First Year of thi- War " 

8 



34 GRANT .\ND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

wuich we need not dispute. Although, in comparison with 
subsequent engagements, Belmont seems a small affaii', it has 
an importance peculiarly its own. 

I. It was a coup cVessai of our new general. While others 
of his rank were playing quite subordinate parts in large 
armies, Grant was making an independent expedition in com- 
mand, outwitting the enemy, burning his camp, retreating 
successfully when overpowered, and eflfecting his pui-pose in a 
most soldierly manner. 

II. Again, it was a trial of our new troops in the West, 
and they acquitted themselves so as to ehcit the hearty praise 
of their commander and the country. They fought well in 
the attack, fi'om colonels to privates,* in the retreat, and in 
cutting their way thi'ough Cheatham's force, and were never 
for a moment discouraged. 

ITT. The objects of the expedition, — to prevent the enemy 
from sending a force to Missouri to cut off our detachments 
which were pressing Thompson, and to prevent his re-enforcing 
Price, — were fully accomphshed. Grant had given him a blow 
which kept him concentrated, lest another might soon follow. 

rV. It demonstrated the weakness of the enemy. It led to 
the \'ictories of Forts Henry and Donelson, and the piercing of 
the rebels' hne, which threw it back almost upon the Gulf. 

Of the personal prowess of Gcner.i! Grant, as evinced in 
this battle, it is now needless to speak ; it was of the highest 
order. He, as well as General McClernand, had a horse shot 
under him, and amid the crashing projectiles of heavy gims 
from Columbus and Belmont, and the fatal storm of musketry, 
" the gallant conduct of his troops was stimulated by his 
presence and inspii'ed by his example."! 

* In a letter to his father (November 8th) Grant says, " I can say with grati- 
fication, that every colonel, without a single exception, set an example to their 
commands," etc. 

f General McClernand's " Official Report." McClernand had three horses 
ehot under him. 

Note.— June 20, 18G5, General Grant submitted to the Secretary of War a 
fresh report, to take the place of the old one. 



FOUT IIKNTIY. 8$ 



CHAPTER V. 

FORT HENRY. 

IIallzck'b Departmeijt or Missouri. — Grant's recoxnoissancb nrro KENTrcmr. 
— Its value — Map or field oe operations. — CoLruBrs, the GinRALTAR or 
America. — Rebel line. — Forts Henry and Donelson. — Foote's flotilla. — 
C. F. Smith and Phelps reconnoitre Fort Henry. — Grant receives prrmis- 

BION TO ATTACK. — TllE FORT DESCRIBED. — LlOYD TiloHMAN IN COMMAND. — 

Grant's orders of march and battle. — The naval attack. — The sfRRENDER. 
-- Comments on rebel defeat. — On to Donelson. — Tribute to CommoD' rx 

FOOTE. 

The " District of Cairo," to the command of which General 
Grant had been assip^ed, began now to assume more impor- 
tance, as the immediate field of war in the West blazed from 
new points almost daily, and the thunder-bursts were answered 
by echoing guns all over the country. On the I'^th of Novem- 
ber, 1861, General Henry Wager Hallcck, of the regular army, 
and second on the list of major-generals, was sent to take 
command of the " Department of Missouri." He had formerly 
been an officer of engineers in our army, but hud been for 
some time out of service, as a successful lawyer in San Fran- 
cisco. He was well known as a diligent military student, and 
as a WTiter upon the military art. His department included 
the States of Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, 
Arkansas, and that portion of Kentucky west of the Cumber- 
land Iiiver. This territory he at once dinded into districts. 
Of this department, the District of Cairo was the most im- 
portant part ; and it was on the 20th of December enlarged, 
so as to include all the southern part of Illinois, all that part 
of Kentucky west of the Cumbirland River, and the southern 
counties of Missouri south of Cape Girardeau. Confirmed in 
this large command, General Grant at once began to organize, 



36 GRANT a:;d ins CiV:^ii'AiGNs. 

uuder the direction of General Halleck, for a new movement. 
Cairo was the point of departure, rather than a 'point cfappui. 
Grant posted his troops at numerous prominent points for 
defence, for convenience of suppHes, and for facilities of re- 
connoissance, and also to deceive the enemy temporarily, 
with reference to his strength. On the 10th of January he 
sent General McClemand, with an expeditionary force of five 
thousand Illinois Volunteers, to penetrate into the interior of 
Kentucky, in the neighborhood of Columbus, and towards 
Mayfield and Camp Beauregard. 

This reconnoissance into Kentucky was made by order of 
Major-General Halleck, and, as it is believed, at the request of 
General Buell, with a "\dew to prevent the enemy, who had 
estabhshed his hue, from detaching forces from Columbus and 
th :> adjacent country to . re-enforce the garrisons of Bowling 
Groen, against which General Buell was then preparmg to move. 

To aid McClernand, General Grant sent doA\Ti detached 
regiments from time to time to join him ; and, on the 14th, he 
sent the enth-e divisions of Generals Payne and C. F. Smith 
to act in concert with him. 

General Payne moved fi'om Bu'd's Point \\\\.\\ the column 
from Cairo, and then remained in person in command at Fort 
Jefferson, during the continuance of the reconnoissance. 
General Smith moved from Smitliland : Grant himself accom- 
panied the column from Cairo. 

The weather was cold, the roads slippery and muddy, and 
the river filled with floating ice. McClernand occupied Fort 
Jefferson, marched through BlandviUe, and to within the dis- 
tance of a mile from the defences of Columbus. He was recalled 
on the 20th, having discovered new roads and obtained much 
valuable information for a future advance in force. Indeed, 
the result of this rapid and vigorous movement, especially so 
far as the column from Cairo was concerned, was a minute 
acquaintance with the roads, streams, and general toixigraphy 
of the country, which would have been of incalculable^ value 
had we been conqiollcd to operate directly against Columbus. 
Two of our gunboats had gone do^vn the river at the same 



FORT HENRY. 



37 



timo, and driven tliroo rebel armed vessels back uiidfr tho 
shelter of the ^uns of Columbus. 

Before attemptinj^j to present tho succeeding movemcnt-s, 
based upon the information obtained from this and other ro- 
conuoissauces, let us glance for a moment at the rebel position. 




OPERATIONS rX WESTERN KENTUCKY. 



Columbus, twenty miles below the moutli of tho Ohio, with 
its blufl's two hundred feet high, was strongly fortified by 
heavy batteries which swept the Mississippi above and below. 
The landward defences, at first weak, were being daily 
strengthened ; and the rebel press, calling it the Gihraltar of 
Amerirn, declared that it would seal the great river, lantil all 
nations should acknowledge the independence of the Southern 
Confederacy. 

To extend their line eastward, covering Nashville in that 
direction, they had, beginning in August, ISOl, fortitietl 
Bowling Green, a small place on the Big Barren River, but 
naturally well adapted to difence, and of strategic importance 
as being on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. The Big 
Barren River is at certain seasons navigable for small vessels, 
by the Ohio and Green rivers, from Ijouisville. The river is very 
winding in its vi.inity, and in all the bends are steep hills 



38 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

which were crowned mth lunettes, redans, and even bastioned 
works. 

Important lines in the strategic problem were the Tennessee 
and Cumberland rivers, flowing in a northerly direction, with 
nearly parallel currents through Kentucky, into the Ohio. The 
Tennessee is navigable at high-water for steamboats to Flor- 
e-.je, at the foot of Muscle Shoals ; and the Cumberland, on 
the right bank of which Nashville is situated, is navigable 
during high-water for large steamboats to Nashville, about 
two hundi-ed miles from its mouth, and for small steamers 
nearly three hundred miles further. 

To bar the na^agation of these streams against the passage 
of Union troops, supplies, and gunboats, into the very ^dtals 
of the rebellion, thus cutting it in two places, the rebels had 
erected two strong works, which they boasted to be quite 
sufficient for this pui-pose. The one on the eastern bank of 
the Tennessee was called Fort Henry : it mounted seventeen 
guns, and had barracks and tents for fifteen thousand 
men ; and the other, named Fort Douelson, was erected on 
the western bank of the Cumberland, and mounted about 
forty gims. These forts also served immediately to guard the 
raUroads from Memphis to Nashville and BowUng Green, and 
the small branch raikoad to Dover. The distance between 
Forts Henry and Donelson was twelve miles : a good road 
and telegraph line connected the two. 

Thus an apparently strong, and a certainly well-ehoson line, 
was formed, extending fi'om the Mississippi at Belmont and 
Columbus, through Southern Kentucky and Northern Ten- 
nessee to Cumberland Gap, and thence onward by East Ten- 
nessee and Southwestern Virginia to the rebel positions 
around and beyond Eichmond ; {ind to strengthen this line, 
all troops tliat could bo spared from Virginia had been sent 
by the Confederate government to the west. 

But the old axiom, that "nothing is stronger tlian its 
weakest point," was here verified. To break this vaunted 
lin(! ; to make stronghold after stronghold crumble or dis- 
solve, and to lay do^vn the grand equations for the solution of 



FX)RT HENRY. 39 

future j)r()l)lcrns of a higher degree — the clearing of tho 
Mississippi and tho advance from Cliattanooga — tlieso were 
the phms of our Government ; and among tho intelHgent and 
energetic agents in carrying them out, none was more so than 
General Grant. Wo cannot read liis history from first to last 
without being struck with the manifest foresight he has dis- 
played. He goes on from action to action — virrs arquirif 
eundo — as though each was only a means to an end, tho end 
becoming a now means, until tho final goal sIkjuM be rracrhed. 

During the autumn and early winter, numerous gunbo.its 
had been built, and many river-boats altered into gunboats, at 
Cairo, St. Louis, and numerous river-towns, by citizens and 
quartermasters, under the general superintendence of Flag- 
OflBcer A. H. Foote, of the navy ; and a number of these were 
now in readiness to co-operate with the army in its advance 
by the rivers into Sout>hern territory. To man them, volun- 
teers were called for among the river-hands and sea-faring 
• men who had entered the army, and they responded readily : 
it was, for a time at least, a popular sci*Aice, and one that tho 
sequel proved to be full of tho most romantic adventures. 

Let us now return for a moment to consider the movements 
of the reconnoitring column of General Grant's army which 
moved from Paducah. These were also of the greatest impor- 
tance. Upon his return, in accordance with Grant's orders. 
General 0. F. Smith struck the Tennessee River about twenty 
miles below Fort Henry. There he met Commander Phelps, of 
the navy, with a gunboat, patroling the river. After a brief con- 
ference with that energetic officer, General Smith decided to 
get upon the gunboat, and run up for a look at Fort Henry. 

The boat steamed up sufficiently near to draw the enemy's 
fire, and obtain a just idea of the armament of the work. 
Smith returned at once, and reported to General (Jrant his 
conviction that, \nth three or four of " the turtle iron-clad.s" 
and a strong co-operating land force. Fort Henry might he 
easily captured, if the attack should be made within a short 
time. It was about the '24th of Januarv that Grant for- 



40 



GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 



warded this report to Halleck. No action having been at 
once taken, General Grant and Flag-Officer Foote sent dis- 
patches, on the 28th of January, asking for j^ermission to 
storm Fort Henry, and- hold it as a strong point from which 
to operate in any direction. Time was valuable. General 
Grant wrote an urgent letter to Halleck (dated Cairo, January 
29th), still further explaining his dispatches, and setting forth 
the feasibility and the great importance of this movement. At 
length the desired order came. On the 30th, in the afternoon, 
Grant received a dispatch from Halleck dii'ecting him to make 
preparations without delay to take and hold Fort Henry, and 
promising that full instructions should be sent by messenger. 




FOKT HENET. 



"Without for an instant proposing to say that Halleck had 
not blocked out these movements in his own mind, we do say 
that the plans of General Grant, based upon the energetic 
action of his subordinates, and especially of C. F. Smith, were 
formed and suggested to Halleck in entire ignorance of the 
plans of General Halleck. From the concentration of troops 
in Grant's command it was evident that Halleck intended a 
vigorous move in some direction, but Grant's title to the 
actual i)lan of movement is at least as good as that of either 
General Halleck or General Euell. 

All preparations having been made, tlie iirst jxnut of attack 
designated was Fort Henry. It was an iiregular field-work, 



FORT IIF.NRY. 11 

with fivo bastions, on tlio eastern bank of \hr . nesaco. 
The cmbrasiirea were revetted with sand-baj^s ; rind its arma- 
ment, a hirj^'e portion of which swept the river Ix^low, com- 
prised one sixty-two pounder, one ten-inch cohnnbiad, twelve 
thirty-twos, two forty-twos, and one twelve-pounder. Twelve 
of the i^iins bore upon the river. 

Both above and below the fort were creeks, defendcul by 
rifle-pits and abatis of slashed tind)er, and around it wjus 
swampv l.nul with a sheet of back-water in the rear. The 
land a]>]noaclu^s are diflicult, and across the river, which is 
here about half a mile wide, was an untinished work, bej^un 
too late, and therefore abandoned, but originally designed to 
aid Fort Henry in stopping the passage of the river. Pan- 
ther Creek, a short distance below the fort, falls into the Ten- 
nessee just abreast of Panther Island. 

The command of this important work, a link in the great 
chain, although, as events proved, a very weak one, was con- 
fided to Brigadier-General Lloyd Tilghman, of the Confed- 
erate service, with a force of more than three thousand men, 
and with a clear exposition — manifest without words — of the 
importance of his command. Tilghman wa-s of the Maryland 
family of revolutionary repute, a graduate of We.st Point, and 
a gallant volunteer in our army during the Mc^xican war. On 
the Gth of ^lay, 18G1, as colonel commanding the "Western 
Di\'ision of " Neutral Kentucky," in an interview with Colonel 
Prentiss at Cairo, he had declared that he had no hostile pur- 
pose against the Government ; but in less than a year he was 
captured at Fort Henry as a Confederate brigadier, and was 
afterwards killed in the ranks of treason at Baker's Creek, 
near Vicksburg. 

On the morning of Monday, February 2, and after a quiet 
Sunday at Cairo, Flag-Officer Foote having drvotidly invoked 
God's blessing on the expedition, with all the fervor, but with- 
out the superstition, of a Spanish contpiistador, moved up the 
Ohio ti) Paducah, and thence up the Tennessee. His fleet con- 
sisted of the iron-dad gunboats Cincinnati, Essex, ('aroudelet, 
and St. Louis, and the wooden boats Lexington, Tyl«;r, and 



42 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

Conestoga : the Cincinnati was his flag-ship. By nightfall 
they were in the Tennessee ; and by easy steaming they were 
three or four miles below Fort Henry at daylight on Tuesday, 
^February 3. Caution was necessary, on account of the infor- 
mation obtained fi'om people on the river-banks that the 
stream was mined with torpedoes. Foote had the river chan- 
nel dragged with grappling-irons, and succeeded in fisliing up 
several, which, liowever, being imperfectly prepared, would 
have proved harmless. 

Steaming up to withm a mile of the fort, the commodore 
fired the first gun from the Cincinnati as she passed the head 
of Panther Island, at half-past twelve o'clock, and from that 
time the bombardment was careful and slow, mostly with cur- 
vated fire, until the fort surrendered. 

And where was Grant's army at this time ? He had moved 
to the combined attack, with the divisions of McClernaud and 
C. F. Smith, thus disposed : McClernand, with the First 
Division, landing at Marbury's, three miles below, was to 
move in rear of the fort, to occupy the road leading to Dover 
and Fort Donelson, — thus to cut off the retreat of the ganison 
and prevent re-enforcements from coming in, and also to be 
"in rcatliness to charge and take Fort Henry by storm 
promptly on receipt of orders." We quote the words of 
Grant's order of march and battle. 

Two brigades of Smith's (Second) division, lauding on the 
west bank, were to reconnoitre and occupy the imtinished 
work, Fort Heiman, and the sui-rounding eminences, and 
bring their artillery to bear on Fort Henry. The third 
brigade of Smith was to march up the east bank in the track 
of McClernand, and either to support him or form a special 
column of attack on the fort, as cu-cumstancos might prompt. 
The orders of General Grant were clear, practicable, and well 
timed. It was supposed that if the attack by the fleet in 
front began at twelve o'clock of the 5th, the army Mould be in 
position to co-operate ; and had the fort made any tiling like 
the defence which was uuticipated, this would have been the 
case. But the roads were very bad, and Grant luoved with 



F()i;t iiKNiiY. 43 

proper caution over ^'rouud entirely untried, and in partial 
ignorance of tiie disposition of the enemy's forces between 
Forts Henry and Douelson. 

But to return to the gunboats. Constantly steaming slowly 
up towards the fort, and passing Panther Island hy the 
western channel, they came into position just below the fort, 
and in a line diagonally across the river. The order of the 
iron-clads, fi'om left to right, was as follows : the Essex, 
Carondelet, Cincinnati, and St. Louis. In second line, just 
above Panther Island, were the wooden boats Lexington, 
Conestoga, and Tyler. 

The firing from the boats was at once warmly respoude(l to 
by the fort, and a terrific cannonade was kept up ; the naval 
guns, with both direct and curvated fire, raining in upon the 
terreplein, knocking the sandbag embrasures to pieces, and 
dismounting several of the guns in the fort. The ritled gun 
in the fort soon bursts, killing three men and disabling many 
others ; the flagstafl" is shattered and falls ; seven of the guns 
are dismantled or useless. The ganison becomes discour- 
aged, and at last panic-stricken. The three thousand men 
who were encamped outside scarcely wait for Tilghman's 
orders to save themselves. Some, fearing McCleniand's ap- 
proach, make a rapid flight by the upper Dover road, while 
others, seizing a small steamer lying at the mouth of the 
creek above the fort, steam hastily up the river. And thus 
Tilghman is left, with eighty or ninety artillerists, to sur- 
render the work. Meanwhile the metal of the gimboats has 
been fairly ])ut to the test. The Cincinnati, flag-ship, has 
received thirty-one shots ; the Essex, sixteen ; the St. Louis, 
seven ; the Carondelet, six. The iron sides of the boats shed 
most of the balls, but the Essex receives one of the shots in 
her boiler, which results in the wounding and scalding of 
twenty-nine, officers and men, among whom is the intrepid 
commander, W. D. Porter. 

At length, when he had oidy four guns bearing on the river 
.still fit for service ; when his frightened garri.son had deserted 
him, leaving only " fifty privates and twenty sick ;" and when 



44 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

he h:id done a private soldier's sendee at the middle battery, 
" covered Avith smoke, and personally pointing the guns," 
Tilghman hauled down his rebel flag, and ran up a white 
one, at five minutes before two, the action having lasted for 
only Qne hour and a quarter. 

Grant came up about an hour afterwards, pleased of course 
with the result, but doubtless feeling a soldier's natm-al dis- 
appointment that the rapidity of the fight had settled the 
matter before the arrival of his command. Flag-Officer 
Foote turned over to him the captured work, mimitions, and 
prisoners ; the transports and troops which were coming up 
the Tennessee Y.ere turned back or stopped at the fort ; and 
the next step in the grand game was immediately con- 
sidered.^" 



* In Grant's brief report to HaUeck's staff-officer, written tlie same day 
from Fort Henry, he says : 

" Captain — Inclosed I send you my order for the attack upon Fort Henry. 
Owing to dispatches received from Major-General Halleck, and corroborating 
information here, to the effect that the enemy were rapidly re-enforcing, I 
thought it imperatively necessary tliat the fort should be carried to-day. My 
forces were not up at ten o'clock last night, when my order was written, there- 
fore I did not deem it jiractieable to set an earlier hour than eleven o'clock to- 
day, to commence the investment. The gunboats started up at the same hour 
to commence the attack, and engaged the enemy at not over six hundred yards. 
In little over one hour all the batteries were silenced, and the fort surrendered 
at discretion to Flag-Officcr Foote, giving us all their guns, camp and garrison 
equipage, etc. The prisoners taken are General Tilghman and staff, Captain 
Taylor and company, and the sick. The garrison. I think, must have com- 
menced tlieir retreat last night, or at an early hour this morning. 

" Had I not felt it an imperative necessity to attack Fort Henry to-day, I 
Bhould have made the investment complete, and delayed until to-morrow, so 
as to secure the garrison. I do not now believe, however, the result would 
have been any more satisfactory. 

" Tlie gunboats have jiroven themselves well able to resist a severe can- 
nonading. All the iron-clad boats received more or less shots — the flag-ship) 
some twenty-eight — without any serious damage to any, except tlie Essex. 
This vessel received one shot in her boiler that disabled her, killing and 
wounding some thirty-two men. Captain Porter among the wounded. 
" I remain your obedient servant, 

" U. S. Grant, Brigadier-General." 



KOUT IIKNUY. }.', 

General Tilghimiu acknowlodgod, in the. dispatch whiili hr 
was permitted to send to General Jolinston at Bowling 
Green, " the courtesies and consideration sllo^^•n by General 
Grant and Commodore Foote, and the otficers under their 
command ;" but in his report he was particularly severe upon 
the Confederate authorities for thus leaving him to be the 
victim of a bad mihtary judgment in sch^-ting the post, and 
a want of proper prejxiratioiis to hold the work. 

Before giving to this vii'tory its co-ordinate place in tluj 
vast strategy of the war, lot us indulge in a word of comment 
upon the rebel defeat. The Confederate reports are unani- 
mous in declaring that the site of Fort Henry was badly 
chosen ; that it was low, easily surrounded, and commanded 
by the ground on the opposite side of the river ; and that it 
was not calculated by its construction to sustain an attack by 
the fleet. We grant all this, but whose fault was it ? Can 
there bo a gi-aver fault in war than this ? It is far worse than 
losing a pitched battle to lose a stronghold, and that strong- 
hold a link of the most vital value in a grand chain. Be- 
sides, it shows the rapidity and \-igor of Grant's and Foote's 
movements, that Fort Heiman, on the opposite side of the 
river, was incomplete and useless. "Wliat they thus advance 
as a bar in judgment, or rather to explain away then- defeat 
and depreciate the military character of our success, really 
enhances the credit of Grant and Foote. 

But worse than all that can be said about a faulty loeution 
of the fort, is the inglorious tlight of three thousand and odd 
men, without striking a single blow. They should have made 
roconnoissances fiom the moment they divined our pui-pose, 
ambushed the road, contested the landing of the troops, pre- 
pared toi-jjedoes that would explode, and, at the least, held 
the fort long enough to give a respectable appearance to the 
defence. Certainl; Fort Henry was not built to surrender in 
an hour and a quarter. It was the briefest action, to pre- 
cede an honest surrender, of which we have any record in 
tlie war. 

The rules of mihtary strategj' are simple, few, and immuta- 



46 GRANT AND HIS CAAfPAIONS. 

ble ; their applications indefiiiitelj and infinitely varied. By 
a rapid application of the simplest rule, the first charmed line 
was cut, and its tension entii-ely gone. Buckner, who, by 
command of Albert Sydney Johnston, had occupied Bowhng 
Green as early as September, 1861, with ten thousand men, 
and who had vaunted its impregnable strength, felt the fall 
of Fort Henry like an electric shock, paralyzing his gi-asp. 
Bowling Green was no longer tenable ; there was but one 
point which was so, and that only for the time, and that was 
Fort Donelson ; and so, moving the chief part of his forces 
thither, he left only a rear-guard, which evacuated Bowling 
Green on the 15th of February. Bowling Green, that para- 
gon of complex fortifications, was entered by General Mitch- 
ell, of BueU's column, who made a forced march from Ba- 
con's Creek, and, arriving before he was expected, captured a 
large amount of stores there. Actions are not to be measured 
by the numbers engaged, or by their duration or carnage, but 
by their results. By this strategy Fort Donelson was flanked, 
and the safety of Nashville imminently endangered. 

But yet Foi-t Donelson was exceedingly strong ; its garrison 
and armament were large, and entirely adapted to its propor- 
tions ; and it was manifest that the rebels would not abandon 
it without a severe stniggle. To this straggle General Grant 
invited them without a moment's delay. 

In the mean time, immediately after the surrender of Fort 
Henry, Flag-Officer Foote dispatched Lieutenant Command- 
ing Phelps, with the gunboats Conestoga, Tyler, and Lexing- 
ton, up the Tennessee into Northern Alabama. He destroyed 
the railroad-bridge twenty-five miles above Fort Henry, and 
proceeded up to Florence, at the foot of Miiscle Shoals, de- 
stroying several steamers and river-craft, ar.d captured a large 
quantity of lumber and stores, and developed the loyal senti- 
ments of many of the people. 



NoTK. — There can be no place more fittinp: tlian tlie close of tlie record of 
Fort Henry's surrender, in which to pay our tribute to the brilliant fighting, 
personal gallantry, and rare piety of Commodore, afterwards Rear-Admiral 



FORT IIENUY. :7 

Footo, and sinco, prcatly to hia coontn-'s loss, dead, and gono to a pood nu nV 
rest. A wm of Srnator Snmuel A. F<x)to, whoso n>solution on tlio public landa 
occasionctl the famous piissapo at arms bt't\V(>on Webster and IlayiK-, in Janii 
ary, ISoO, young Footo cnten-d the navy at the ageof sixteen, and was known 
in all grades iis an excellent and energetic ollker. As first-li<utenant of the 
aloop-of war Joh.n Adams, he took a prominent jiart in the attack on tho Su- 
matra pirates in 18;]8; and was noted for the aid and sympathy he extendwl 
to the American missionaries at Honolulu, when few of our naval officers felt 
any interest in them. He was a strong advocate of total abstinence in the 
navy. In \^~t'2, after a cruise on the coast of Africa, he jjublished a volume 
entitled " Africa, and the Africans," in which he exposed the horrors of the 
slave-tnide, by illustrations of the manner in whiclj the negroes were packed 
in Blavc-shijis. In lSo(), in protecting tho property of American citizens at 
('anton, which suffered during the English war. he breached a fort with his 
ship, and tlu'n, landing, stormed it, with a loss of forty men out of two hun- 
dred and eighty. His record during the war for the Union is brilliant in the 
extreme. He suw-rintended the fltting out of the flotilla on the Mississippi 
and Ohio in 1801-2 ; took F(*rt Henry ; was further distinguished at Fort Don- 
elson, where he was wounded : and in the successful operations at Island No. 
10, which he aided in reducing. His life was devoted to tho ser%ice of his 
country. In July, 180'J, he was created one of the new rear-admirals, on the 
active list; and in Juue, 1863, while preparing to relieve Admiral Dupont in 
command of the South Atlantic blockading squadron, he died suddenly, and 
was buried in New Haven. Although remarkable for his intelligence and 
tenacity of purpose, he is jjerhaps more fully characterized as-a man of great 
and consistent piety. It was with him a vital principle, constantly displayed. 
He let his light shine, praying, exhorting, preaching; urging all with whom 
he came in contact, with precept upon precept, and, what is far better, alluring 
them by his shining exami)le. His loss was severely felt ; but his record was 
so glorious, and his fitness for departure bo manifest, that we can " talk of his 
fate without a sigh," and thank God for so beautiful an exemplar of the gen- 
tleman, soldier, sailor, commander, and Christian. 



48 GRAINT A^'D HIS CAMPAIGNS. 



CHAPTER \^. 

FORT DONELSON. 
Eeokoanization.— Ordeu of maucii.— McClernand and SMirn move —A olancb 

AT THE FORT. ElVEK-FHONT.— LaND APPROACnES.— GaRRISON ANU COMMANDERS. — 

Assault upon the trenches — Unsuccessful. — Storm and cold. — Ke-enforcb- 
MES.-SB under L. Wallace.— Tue attack of the gunboats.— TERRreLE cannon- 
ade.— F«oote witudraws.— Value of his attack.— Rebel counter plans.— Oob 
RIGHT attacked and rolled back.— Grant's consummate plan.— L. Wallacb 

UOVES. 

As Fort Henry was designed to obstruct the navigation of 
the Tennessee, so Fort Donelson was the work upon which 
the rebels depended to seal the Cumberland and to protect 
Nashville. No sooner had the former fallen, than Grant 
made his dispositions to assault the latter. He saw the im- 
portance of taking time by the forelock, and confusing the 
already dismayed Confederates by the rapidity of his assardt. 
He reorganized his forces, and sent for aU available re-enforce- 
ments that had been collecting at Cau'o. His army was 
formed for this new service into two divisions : the first, 
under Brigadier-General J. A. McClcrnand, containing four 
brigades, under Colonels Oglesby, W. H. L. Wallace, McAr- 
thur, and Morrison ; the second, imder Brigadier-General 
Charles F. Smith, of three brigades, under Colonels Cook, 
Lauman, and M. L. Smith : a third wiQ appear in our nan-a- 
tive, imdcr Brigadier-General Lewis Wallace, to be composed 
in part of forces which had been concentrating at Smithland, 
and which were now ordered to join liim. With McCler- 
nand's division were the field-batteries of Schwartz, Taylor, 
Dresser, and McAllister; and with Smith were the heavy 
batteries of llichardson, Stone, and Walker ; aU the artillery 



FOHT DONELSON. j;) 

l)oin,L( mull r Major Caveiuler, as diirf of artilli'iy. Clrant's 
cavalry consisted of the Fourth Illinois cavah v, ^vith several 
inilepemlent companies. The composition of "Wallace's pro- 
visional division will he p^ven hereafter.* 

Bj Grant's <fen(>ral ficM-onhM-s No. 12, of Fchruary 11, 
1862, we find the order of iiinrch arranged as follows : One 
hri^'ade of ^ri-('lernand's division was to movi^ liy the Tele- 
{^rapli road from Fort Henry directly ni)on Fort Donelson, 
and to halt within two miles of the fort ; the other three bri- 
gades to march hv the Dover Ridge road to within the same 
distance, and then to unite with the first in fonnin'r tlii- vi lit 
wing in the complete investment of the fort. 

Two hngades of Smith's (second) division were to follow hy 
the Dover road, and these were to be followed by the troops who 
had occupied the imtinished Fort Heiman, as soon as they 
could be sent forward. As the force of the enemy was vari- 
ou.sly reported, details of the attack coiild no4; be given until 
the gi'ound was reached ; but Smith was directed to occupy 
Dover, if practicable, and thus to cut oft" all retreat by the 
river. 

Li accordance with these general directions, which were to 
be much modified A\hen they reached the gi'ound, McCler- 
nand and Smith marched across the country from the Ten- 
nessee Fiiver to the Cumberland, on the morning of Febiiiary 
12, to attack the works on the land side ; while six regiments, 
which were to constitute a portion of Wallace's (third) divi- 
sion, were moved by transports, accompanied by the gun- 
boats, ft-om Smitldaud up the Cumberland, to join in the 
movement by an attack on the river-fi-ont, or to l)e disposed 
of as circumstances should afterwards reipiire. In order to 
gain tinu', the movement was made after very rapid and un- 
satisfactory preparation. The gunboats had been overhauled 
in a very hasty manner, to repair the damages received in the 



* General Ix-wis Wallace lx«long»Kl to the division of Opni-ral C. F. Smith, 
and wlu-n Grant moved againtit Fort Donelson he was left in oimmatxl i4 
Forts Henry and Ilciman, parris 'ti-'d fr>m(len<Tal Siaitii's command. 

4 



50 GRANT AND niS CAMPAIGNS. 

attack on Fort Henry ; but, impatient of delay, and perhaps 
determined that they should not again get the start of him, 
and still more cogently, because Grant knew the immense 
value of every minute of time just at this jimctiu'e, he pushed 
forward with the two divisions mentioned, to the siege and 
assault. One of Smith's brigades had been left at Fort Hen- 
ry, as a gamson, under Lewis Wallace. All boats were de- 
flected from the Tennessee to the Cumberland ; many others 
had joined the great convoy, and the Union army was con- 
verging in all its strength upon Fort Donelson. 

Let us look for a moment at the work to be attacked. This 
stronghold was placed upon a high hUl on the left bank of the 
river, where it makes an abrupt turn fi'om north to west, flow- 
ing in the latter direction for about a quai-ter of a mile, and 
then turning northward again. By this location a large num- 
ber of guns could be trained directly down the stream, and 
pour a terrible storm of fire upon the advancing gunboats. 
At the foot of the hUl, riverward, were two sti"ong water-bat- 
teries, with massive epaulments ; the embrasures revetted 
with cofi'ee-sacks filled with sand. The armament of the 
lower, or main battery, consisted of eight thirty-twos, and one 
ten-inch columbiad ; that of the other was one heavy rifled 
gun, carrying a one himdrcd and twenty-eight pound bolt, 
and two thirty-two j^ound caiTonades. These batteries were 
sunken or excavated in the hill-side. The fort itself was of 
iiTegular form, its trace following the inequalities of the hill, 
and inclosing nearly one himdred acres. It was flanked by a 
creek or back-water below, which is not generally fordable ; 
and jiist above, a small creek separates it from the town of 
Dover, Avhich is one mile above the fort, on the river-bank. 
It needs but one glance at the map to show that the works 
were exceedingly strong on the river-front. 

We turn to the kind approaches. Taking advantage of the 
topogi'aphy of the field, which presents a conglomerate of hills 
and valleys, knolls and ravines, the rebels had cleared away 
all the timber, which could mask an enemy's advance, and 
erected field-works defended by artillery and infantry, fi'om 



FORT ix)xr,r-soN. 51 

tho r\tromo wostom nu^\c of th<; fort, followinfj tho soiitlicm 
direction of a rulf^o, and thus proscntiii}^ a natural tlankirif^ 
arrangement of all the parts. Still in front of this extended 
line, encirclinf; tho fort and the intrenchment, and the town of 
Dov(T, was a line of detached rifle-trenclics. constructed of lof^^s, 
forming a slight ])arapet ; and in front of the whoK; was shuslu-d 
timber, as an abatis. It seemed quite as strong on the land- 
ward side; as on the river-front, and tho work Ix^fore Grant 
appeared still more diflicult, when we consider tho strength of 
the rebel garrison. 

It consisted of thirteen regiments of Tennessee troo])s, two 
of Kentucky, six of Mississippi, one of Texas, two of Ala- 
bama, four of Virginia, two independent battalions of Ten- 
nessee infantry, and Forrest's Ijrigade of cavalry ; and, besides 
the armament of the fort and water-batteries, six batteries of 
light artillery and seventeen heav}- guns. The force, number- 
ing at least twenty-three thousand ni(>n, was skilfidly dis- 
posed ; but the Confederate authorities had erred fatally in 
their choice of commanders. General Floyd, whom the rel)ols 
should have been more sagacious than to have preferred to 
any office of responsibility and tnist. however proper he might 
have been as an aspirant for a post of profit, had been ordered 
by General A. 8. Johnston to the command of Fort Donelson, 
and had assumed it, without delay, on the 13th, the day r.fter 
Grant's movement had begun. Here at once were fatal ele- 
ments ; he was not only a traitor, but he was believed to b* a 
dishonest man, and circumstances were to prove him a cowar 1. 
Notwithstanding his preferment to the United States secre- 
taryship of war, under Buchanan, it was patent that he knew 
little of military matters ; and it was certain that he kni-w 
nothing whatever of the fort, its topograjihy, or its g.-m-ison. 
The next in rank was General Gideon J. Pillow, whom Floyd 
had assigned to the official command of the rebel left wing, in 
and around Dover. He too hatl only arrived there on the 
10th, and being by nature as obtuse, and, in spite of some Mexi- 
can practice, or rather mal-practice, as ignorant as Floyd, he 
was of small value as a leader in the defence. Tho other 



52 GRANT i-CsD HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

prominent commanders were Buckner and B. R. Johnson, 
both graduates of West Point, and highly esteemed for intel- 
ligence and bravery, whien subordinates in our army. BuL'k- 
ner had command of the fort, and the ground in its immediate 
vicinity, while Johnson had a command on the left under Pil- 
low. Such briefly was the work, and such the force, moral 
and i)hysical, which General Grant nished to attack with two 
divisions, not more in all than fifteen thousand men, and vnth 
a greater proportional weakness in artillery. This was sub- 
lime hardihood ; but it was something more ; it was at once 
the impulsion and the intuition of mihtary genius. He knew 
little of the difficult topography, which maps never can ad- 
equately tell ; but he meant to fight, and to continue fighting, 
and to force the rebels to fight. Time was of priceless value, 
and " confusion magnifying the foe," the rebels were deceived, 
as he meant them to be, by his boldness and temerity. 

And now let us return to McCleruand and Smith, who, pre- 
ceded by the cavalry to clear the front, began their march on 
the morning of the 12th, from the neighborhood of Fort 
Henry. They came within view of the fort by early afternoon, 
without having encountered the enemy, who was stupidly 
caging himseK in the iutrenchment, instead of coming out 
like a man to beat, or at least retard, Grant's advancing 
columns. Our generals took up, that night, the positions as- 
signed. On the morning of Thursday, the 13th, the fighting 
began with the dawn, the rebels opening their batteries upo;i 
our troops, whose positions were disclosed by the advance of 
Birge's sharp-shooters upon the enemy's picket line. 

Under this as yet desidtory fire, Grant rajndly posted his 
di\dsions thus : General C. F. Smith on the left, oj^iiosite the 
northwest of the fort ; and McClernand on the right, Ogles- 
by's brigade holding the extreme right. The light artillery 
was placed with proper supports upon the various road.s, 
while most of the heavy guns, under Major Cavender, were 
directed against the armament of the fort. General Grant's 
headquarters were at a farm-house, on the Dover road. 



FOliT IH)Ni:i,S()N. 63 



Tin^ ASSAULT UrON THE TRENTIIES. 

The first j^Tand act was a furious cannonade on botli sides, 
in which Hic rebel practice was excellent, and oui' own not 
inferior. This was the herald of our iufantr}- assault. To 
make a lodgment upon their intrenchment, and ])articularly 
upon an epaulment covering a strong battery in his front, 
General McClernand formed the Forty- eighth Illinois, of Wal- 
lace's brigade, and Morrison's brigade (consisting of the 
Seventeenth and Forty-ninth Illinois), into a storming column, 
under the command of Colonel Ha^me of the Forty-eighth, 
with McAllister's Battery to cover the assault. The move- 
ment was luider the sui^erintendence of Col. AV. H. Wallace, 
of the Second brigade. They formed at the foot of the hill, 
where they were in some measure protected from the direct 
fire ; and at the word, moved fonvard, firing as they advanced. 

The attack was not successful ; and although they were re- 
enforced by the Forty-fifth Illinois, of Wallace's brigade, and 
other troops, the enemy's fiii-e was so vigorous, and the abatis 
and palisading prestntcd so strong an obstacle, tliat they were 
compelled to retire. The position assaulted Avas defended by 
Colonel Heiman's rebel brigade, and two other regiments, 
with one or more batteries of field artillery.* 

In this, and several other desultory engagements, our losses 
were severe. We were at least in contact with the enemy, 
and had f« It his strength ; but there was some danger that he 
might also leaini oiu's. The gunboats and re-enforcements by 
the river were anxiously expected. Without them, we were 
weaker than the enemy ; and our veiy proximity, while it gave 
prestige, increased our danger. 

We were also in want of rations, and, to cap the climax of 
untoward circumstances, the elements con.spired. The un- 
usual and deceitful mildness of the morning, like many a false 
harbinger of spring, had suddenly changed to biting cold ; a 

* Pillow's report. 



54 GRANT AND IIJS CA^rPAIGNS. 

rain-storm from the northeast set in, which turned, first to 
hail, and then to sleet. The cold became more intense, the 
thermometer rapidly falling to only ten degrees above zero. 
The like, it is said, had never been knowTi there. Our troops 
had no shelter whatever, and were without rations ; few had 
blankets and overcoats ; some, with the characteristic improv- 
idence of new troops, beguiled by the mild weather, and 
thoughtless of future need, had thrown them away. At length 
hail and sleet were followed by a di-i-sing snow ; and, but that 
the rebels, who were in the trenches, suftered equally, it would 
have seemed that Boreas had become a rebel sympathizer, 
and was emulating the celestial anger of Jimo, against our 
heroes of the new American Iliad. 

It wovdd be difficult for a warm, sheltered, and weU-fed pen, 
or rather the hand that holds and the brain that impels such, 
to depict the sufferings of that night ; the wounded freezing 
to death, and the weary soldiers benumbed by the cold, which 
even vigorous vitahty could not dispel. They were seeing 
war for the first time, and they had bitter experience of its 
heat and cold at the same moment. 

The morning of Friday dawned sadly upon these war-worn, 
hungry, freezing men, and brought with it only a new sum- 
mons to battle. Still anxiously expecting the gunboats and the 
bulk of Lewis Wallace's new division by the Cumberland, and 
aUve to the immediate hazard of his position, General Grant 
dispatched a courier to General Lewis Wallace himscK, at 
Fort Henry, with orders to bring across the garrison which 
had been left there. But no sooner had the messenger been 
sent, than a scout, who had been posted to watch the river 
below, came galloping up to headquarters with the welcome 
intelligence that a boat was just amving, and a thick cloud 
of smoke announced that the rest of the fleet was below. 
The first boat, the Carondelet, was the herald of the fleet ; 
and as soon as she came within long-range, on that terrible 
stretch of the river swept by the concentrated rchol fire, she 
opened upon the water-batteries ; and tluis began that des- 
perate and unequal battle, in which Flag-Officer Foote was to 



FOUT IX)NELSON. 55 

onga^'c with only partial success, but with iiicroasi; of lu^nor 
to himself and the navy. 

Three mih^s below the fort the troops and the artillery of 
the Third Division were soon landed, with provisions and 
supplies for the whole army ; they had come in the very nick 
of time, llapidly clearing a road throuf;h the woods, they 
wer(^ soon ])laced in lino with the First and Second divisions. 
Wallace, being the only general officer without the command 
of a division, was put in command of this Tliird Division, or- 
ganized after the arrival of the re-enforcements. 

These troops, just arrived, together with the garrison left at 
Fort Henry, constituted the Third Division ; it was composed 
of the brigades of Cruft and Thayer, — the former of four, and 
the latter — two brigades united — of seven regiments. Wal- 
lace was at once posted in the centre, between Smith and 
McClemand, and thus the line was completed. Not much 
time was spent in issuing rations— which gladdened the hearts 
of our men — and ammunition, of which they were in great 
need, and in making proper arrangements for the wounded, 
who had suffered homble tortures, when the second act in the 
drama was begun. This was the 



ATTACK OF THE GUNBOATS ON THE RIVER-FRONT. 

Tlie Carondelet opened the unequal fight : she was not long 
unaided. As at Fort Henry, the flag-officer steamed up with 
his iron-clads — the Pittsburg, St. Louis, Louisville, and Ca- 
rondelet in the first line, followed by the wooden boats Cones- 
toga, Tyler, and Lexington. The water-batteries first engaged 
his attention : if he could silence and pass them, he could 
take a position in the bend, and would be able to enfilade the 
faces of the fort with broadsides. Until ho could do this, 
however, his vessels were exposed to the concentrated fire of 
both batteries, and of the fort, the latter ha^-ing a most de- 
structive ])lunging, as well as raking, fire upon his decks and 
armor. Under a f'cu (ren/'er, such as few naval armaments have 



56 GRA^T Ayu HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

ever experienced, Foote moved nearer and nearer in a deadly 
struggle. But his guns did excellent service ; tlie upper bat- 
tery of four guns was ali-eady silenced ; the shot and shell 
from the heavy gims on the boats had rained upon them for 
two houi-s, and the boats were lying within four hundred 
yards, perhaps even nearer. Notwithstanding that they had 
not been put in a proper condition for the fight, owing to the 
pressure of time, and that they had suffered very greatly from 
the gims of the work, a few minutes more would have enabled 
them to run by into a position fi'om which they coidd have 
paralyzed the water-fi'ont, when suddenly Foote was forced to 
fall back. The rebel cross and plunging fire had at length done 
its work efiectually : the Louisville was rendered unmanage- 
able by a shot which cut away her rudder- chains, and she 
drifted down tlie narrow and rapid stream, helpless and use- 
less. 

The flag-shix3, the St. Louis, had her wheel shot away ; the 
pilot, by whose side the Flag-Officer was standing, was killed, 
and Foote himself wounded in the foot by falling timber. 
Eushing to an additional steering apparatus, upon which he 
had depended in such an emergency to keep her up, he found 
that too shot away, and the St. Louis was thus compelled to 
di'ift doAvn in an equally helpless condition. Fifty-nine shots 
had stnick the flag-ship, some of them rakmg her fi'om stem 
to stern. The Louisville had received thirty-five ; the Caron- 
delet, twenty-six ; and her rifled gim had burst diu-ing the 
action. The Pittsburg had been struck twenty-one times. 
The fire of at least twenty guns had been concentrated upon 
the boats, and could only be returned by twelve boat-guns. 

To sum up, two of the ii-on-clads were unmanageable, the 
other two greatly damaged between wind and Avater ; and 
thus, when on the very verge of victory, the gallant commo- 
dore, himself drifting powerless, was obUged to make signal 
for all to withdraw, having lost fifty-fom" killed and wounded. 

After consultation with Grant, Foote returned with his fleet 
to Cairo to repair, after which he was to bring down a com- 
petent naval force for a new attack, if the siege should last 



FORT DONKLSON. 57 

lonrr onon_f,'li to require it : but it did not ; the end wns alrciidy 
lit liund. 

We need hardly enforce ui)on our readers the fact that the 
withdrawal of Fhi^'-Officcr Foote was an absohite necessity ; 
he could not ccnitimie the action. But the services of the navy 
on that day must not be by any means und. rv.dued. They 
were of tlie ^^'eatest utiHty : they reheved Cleneral Clrant from 
all danger of attack, while yet too weak to coni])lete the invest- 
ment ; they made a grand diversion in his favor, while he was 
posting his new troops and maturing his plans ; and they gave a 
brighter lustre to the gallantry, skiU, and emlurance uf the 
American sailor, of whom the coimtry has always been proud. 
The withdrawal of the fleet after the action on Friday checked 
for a moment, however, the prosecution of the original plans 
of the general. The jn'oper course now seemed to be to wait 
for large re-enforcements, which he knew might be had from 
St. Louis, Cincimuiti, and Cairo ; to strengthen and perfect 
the investment ; and, perhaps, by marching up the river, to 
isolate the work, and starve it into snn-ender. In the mean 
while, the guidioats could be thoroughly repaired, and return 
to try another attack. Had the rebels now strengthened their 
intrenchments and awaited Grant's attack, such might have 
been the modus operandi. 

But the rebel coimter-plans, formed in a coimcil of war, 
held on Friday night at Floyd's headquarters, in Dover, de- 
termined Grant's battle tactics in a dilferent nuinner, and 
hurried their own ruin. The coimcil was composed of the 
division and brigade commanders, and they unanimously as- 
sented to the plan proposed by General Floyd, which was to 
throw an overwhelming force — half his army, with Fon-est's 
cavalry, all und»'r Pillow and Johnson — upon our right wing, 
imder McCleruand ; to drive it from the heights overlooking 
the Cundteiland, from which there was danger that our liat- 
teries wouM soon sweej) and close the river above ; to throw it 
back upon Wallace, while Buckner with the remaining force, 
less the necessary garrison of the fort, shoidd march directly 
upon om* encampment in the centre, on the Wynn's FeiTy 



58 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

road, and attack Wallace in front. If these flank and centre 
attacks shovild be successful, Grant's army would thus be 
thrown back around Smith as a pivot, and then it might be 
easily routed and destroyed. It was a good plan, and par- 
tially successfid, and yet it was the prelude to their imme- 
diate and overwhelming defeat. In case, however, they could 
only partially succeed, the least Floyd expected was to open 
a pathway by which he might evacuate the fort — now very 
like a trap — withdi-aw his army, and save his precious per- 
son ; which, in any event, he meant to do, whatever should 
happen to his troops. Such were Floyd's plans ; they were 
to be tried with the early morning of Saturday, the 15th. 
Accordingly, at five a. m., the rebel column, under Pillow and 
Johnson, moved out from Dover, the advance being taken 
by Colonel Bakhvin's brigade, composed of the First and 
Fourteenth Mississippi and the Twenty-sixth Tennessee. 
These were followed by Wharton's brigade, of two regiments ; 
McCousland's, of two ; Davidson's, of three ; Drake's, of five ; 
and other troops, amounting in aU to ten thousand men, with 
thirty guns, which were to crush McClemand, and clear a 
pathway through our right, i 

McClernand's troops were thus disposed of : McAi'thur on 
the right ; and then, in order, Oglesby and W. H. L. Wallace. 
McClernand's left was near the Fort Henry road, on the left 
of which was Cruft's brigade, of Lewis Wallace's division. 
Our lines corresponded to the contour of the rebel intrench- 
ment, and with each brigade was a field-battery. It was well 
posted, and, if on the alert, could certainly repel any rebel 
attack. But, unfortunately, the first attack of the rebels was 
of the nature of a surprise. Reveille was just sounding, the 
troops were not under arms, and seemed to be in utter igno- 
rance of the rebel designs ; but it at once bec^ame evident 
that our right flank was seriously menaced. The brigade and 
regimental commanders soon got their men into luie, and, 
guided by the crack of the rebel rifles and the flashes of their 
guns, executed a partial change of fi'ont to meet them. It 
was not a moment too soon, for PilloAv had sent his cavalry 



KOirr DONKLSON. 



to try and strike IMcArtlmr's rear, while he was poiuiding 
away at liis exposed riglit flank. 




^ -- f 



INTESTMENT OF FOKT D0NEL80N. 

Oglcsby and McArthur, with too scant a snpplj of animn- 
nition for this unexpected battle, stood firm for a while ; but 
frt^sh rebel troops constantly ai-rived, and had it not been for 
the coolness of the brigade commanders and the inspiring 
valor of Colonel John A. Logan, who commanded the Thirty- 
first Illinois, of Oglesby's brigade, the attack might have re- 
sulted in a panic to our troo]>s. As it was, McArthur and 
Oglesby were obliged to fall back rapidly to avoid being taken 
in rear, and to form a new line facing south. ]iut the rebels 
did not advance with impunity. Our light batteries, admira- 
bly handled by McAllister, Taylor, and Dresser, shifting their 
position from time to time, pour in a withering fire of grape 
and canister, and cause the enemy's fnmt line to recoil again 
and again, until pushed forward, or rejilacedby the overwhelm- 
ing masses in rear. Two regiments of W. H. L. Wallace's bri- 
gade fly to the rescue, while he aiTanges the others en potenne 
on his loft, to check Pillow, and yet defend the road. 

Again the rebels move towards the right flank of our new 



60 rjRAXT AND HIS CAifPAIGXS. 

line, and apjain the battle rages. Cmft's brigade, of Lewis 
Wallace's division, is ordered do-vm upon tliis flanking column 
at a nm. Thus checked, the enemy might have been di'iven 
back and pursued, had it not been for a new and imexpected 
foe, or rather the fear of one, swarming from their intrench- 
ments, and passing the rifle-pits like a surge of the sea. 
Buckner's force came out to attack the left flank and crotchet 
of our new line. As soon as they were discovered, Wallace 
strengthened the flank thus threatened, and two of Taylor's 
guns, coming rapidly into action, dealt grape and canister on 
his advance. Buckner was easily repulsed, for his attack 
was very feebly delivered, and his troops behaved in the most 
cowardly manner, ^lien at eleven o'clock Pillow rode over 
to Buckner's position, he found them huddled under cover,* 
from which it was only after a good deal of artillery fii-ing that 
their general could persuade them to emerge. In speaking of 
the repulse, Buckner says his attacking regiments " withdi'ew 
without panic, but in some confusion, to the trenches." 

But the moral effect of Buckner's attack was not without 
its value. Beset on all sides, Pillow thundering upon our 
new fi'ont, the cavahy threatening oui- rear, Johnson well ex- 
tended ujjon our right, checked but not driven off by Cruft, 
our men were somewhat demoralized by Buckner's demon- 
stration : many became disheartened ; the fugitives fi-om the 
front became a crowd. A mounted officer galloped down the 
road, shouting, " We are cut to pieces."t The ammimitiou 
had given out. Our line, including Cruft, who had borne the 
brant of the battle for some time, was again forced back. 
Logan, Lawler, and Ransom were woimded; many field-oflicers 
and large numbers of subalterns killed. The crisis of the 
battle had, indeed, arrived, when Genei- . L Wallace posted 
Colonel Thayer's (Third) brigade across the road, formed a 
reserve of three regiments, placed Wood' Battery in position, 
and awaited the attack. The retiring re.,iments formed again 
in rear, and Avere sui)plied with aiumunition. The rebel 

* Ck)lonel Gilmer's Report. f General L. Wallace's Report. 



FOUT DONELSON. (\{ 

attack upon tliis lunv lino was cxtn-imly vi^'orous ; tin y liml 
flclayi'd for awhilo to plunder the tload, and ])i('k up what 
tbev roiild find in ^IcClcnnind's cani]) ; and I'illow had sent 
back an aid to tolo^rapli to Nashville that, " on the honor of 
a soldier," the day was theirs. The new attack which he 
was about to make was only the finishinj::^ stroke. A<,'ain he 
moved upon Thayer's brigade ; but, by their nnflinchinfj 
staml and deliberate fire, and especially by the fiininess of 
the Fii'st Nebraska and the excellent handling of tin- artillnv, 
he was now repulsed. 

"NVhati'ver the apparent success of the rebels thus far. in 
driving our right wing. Grant, thoughtful and imperturbable, 
had not been for a moment dismayed. He saw from the very 
desperate nature of the rebel attack that when it culminated, 
they would give way, if he showed a bold front, and ad- 
vanced at all points, liiding to the front at three o'clock, he 
ordered Lewis Wallace, who had fii'st checked the enemy, to 
advance upon Pillow, and recover the gi'ound lost in tlie 
morning, while General C. F. Smith should .storm the works 
on the enemy's right. His new plans. were rapidly formed, 
and will bear the test of military criticism. 

The column of attack, for the desperate work now under- 
taken by General Wallace, was formed of Colonel M. L. 
Smith's and Colonel Cnift's brigades, supported by two Ohio 
regiments. Over the rough, rolling, and in parts thickly 
wooded ground, these troops moved, driving the unwilling 
enemy before them, and only halting when within one hun- 
dred anil fifty yards of the rebel intrenchments. This was 
at the o'clock! We remained in tlie position thus gained 
during the intensely cold night, ministering to the wounded 
of the morning's battle, with whom the field was thickly 
strewn, and anxious for the morning. At daylight the next 
morning, Thayer's brigade was brought up, and jirejiarations 
were made to storm the intrenchments, when the disjilay of a 
white flag from the fort, followed by others from diflerent 
parts of the works, made them pause. Before going to 
another part of the field, where great deeds were done, we 



62 GRANT AND HIS CAilPAIGNS. 

pause for a moment to say, this movement of "Wallace must 
be regarded as having a decided bearing upon the result. 

And now let us return to the left wing. Smith had received 
orders to attack the intrenchments directly in fi-ont of the 
fort. His plan was to carry their outer works at the point of 
the bayonet, then to bring up his batteries, and sweep the in- 
terior crest, and then to assault and carry the fort. This 
was the grand stroke of the battle ; it would reheve our right, 
and, if successful, would insure the capture. 

We cannot forbear pausing for a moment to express our 
unquahfied admu-ation of General Grant's orders, just at this 
juncture. It was the sublimity of that boldness which Napo- 
leon, and, perhaps, some one before him, had declared to be 
the aes triplex of a commanding general ;* to snatch A-ictory 
out of apparent disaster, by assuming the boldest offensive. 
It amazed and paralyzed the rebels, and it inspired our 
troops, most of them new and ignorant, ydih. coui-age and 
enthusiasm. 

* L'audace, I'audace, et encore I'audace. 



SMTTH'S ATTACK AND TIIE SURREiSDEIL G3 



CH.\PTER Vn. 

GENERAL S:iriTn's ATTACK AND TIIE SURRENDER. 
Surrn's columns ohoamzed. — L.vitman the forloun iiopk. — Smith leads. — Ad- 

DUKSSES IMS MEV. — TllE LINES MOVE. — SmITIi's SPLENDID VALOU DECISIVE. — FlOTD'b 
HKW COUNCIL. — He TUnXS OVER TIIE COMMAND. — PiLLOW LOOKS AT THE CAHDS, AND 
'•passes." — TllE PUSILLANIMOUS FLIGHT. — RUCKNER SURKENDERS. — TllE CORRB- 
BPONDENCE. — GRAND RESULTS. — COMMENTS. — EuLOOY OF GeNEI'.AL C. F. SmITU. 

Wallace ■was already on bis war-path, as avo liave just de- 
scribed, when General Smith organized his column of attack. 
Cook's brigade is posted on his left, and is designed to make 
a feint upon the work. Cavender's heavy guns are posted in 
rear to the right and left, having a cross-fire upon the in- 
trcnchments, and also playing upon the fort ; but the attack- 
ing force — the forlorn hope — is Lauman's brigade, formed in 
close column of regiments, and composed of the Second Iowa, 
the Fifty-second Indiana (temporarily attached), the Tweuty- 
fiith Indiana, Seventh Iowa, and Fourteenth Iowa. 

Cook's feigned attack is abeady begun ; Cavender's guns 
are thundering aAvay. It is nearly sunset, when Smith, hear- 
ing "Wallace's guns far to the right, jDuts himself at the head 
of Lauman's brigade, and climbing the steep hill-side, bursts 
\ipon the ridge on which the enemy has constnicted his outer 
works. Before advancing, and when the force was just in read- 
iness to move. Smith had ridden along the line, and in few 
but emphatic words had told them the duty they were to per- 
form. He said that ho would lead them, and that the pits 
must be taken by the bayonet alone. Perhaps during the 
whole war, full as it is of brilliant actions, there is none more 
striking tlian this charge. 

At the given signal, the lines are put in motioD, Smith rid- 



64 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

ing in advance, with the color-bearer alongside of him ; his 
commanding figure, gray hair, and haughty contempt of dan- 
ger, acting upon his men Hke the white plume of Navan-e at 
Iviy. Not far has he moved before his fi-ont line is swept by 
the enemy's artillery with murderous effect. His men waver 
for a moment, but their general, sublime in his valor, reminds 
them, in caustic words, that while he, as an old regular, is in the 
line of his professional duty, this is what they have volunteered 
to do. With oaths ami urgency, his hat waving upon the point 
of his sword, l)y the splendor of his example he leads them on 
through this valley of death, up the slope, through tlie abatis, 
up to the intrenchment — and over. T\'ith a thousand shouts, 
they plant their standards on the captured works, and jjour in 
volley after volley, before which the rebels fly in precipitate 
terror. Battery after battery is brought forward. Stone's ar- 
ri%ing first, and then a direct and enfilading fire is poured 
upon the flanks and faces of the work. Four hiuidi-ed of 
Smith's gallant column have fallen, but the charge is decisive. 
Grant's tactics and Smith's splendid valor have won the 
day. 

For thus the matter stands : "Wallace has held his advanced 
gi'ound, and is now informed of Smith's success. At all points 
the rebels are di-iven back, and at two, their advanced in- 
trenchments are occupied or commanded. How ditierent 
from the aspect of things in the morning, when Pillow had 
telegi-aphcd to Nash^-ille that he had won the day ! And yet 
there was a logical connection between the morning and the 
evening. They formed but parts of a concerted whole, of a 
plan not. intelligible to the division commanders, who had 
not been able, like General Grant, to appreciate the whole 
field, and to sum the varied issues of the battle. To most of 
the subordinate commanders, and certainly to the greater 
number of the men, up to the decisive moment, the enemy 
seemed to have a gi-eat and growmg advantage ; but to Grant 
it was not so. The very vigor of the enemy's attack, was a 
surge wliioli ho was sure would soon find its refluence ; and, 
by then- massing of troops on oiu" right and centre, Grant's 



SMlllIS Al TACIv AND TllK SrUUENDER. G;> 

coiiiitcr niovcmciit, coinluclcd l)_v Smilh, was rt-ntlrrcd f<>asihl(!, 
and the result suro. Thus wlu>u ni^dit fell, on fli.' 1 llh, tho 
victory was c'(>rtain. Holdinj^ tlio advaiu-cd points tlnis sc- 
c\ircd,and ro-onforrin^' them stron^dy, Clrant oidy awaited tlio 
moniinu; to storm the work. 

DuriiiLC tliat cold ni;^dit, for tlio most part without food, and 
entirely without lir(\ our devoted men awaited the (hiwn with 
unabated ardor. Success had inspired enthusiasm; and the 
]>romise of comi)lete victor}- in the morning comj)onsated for 
their physical sullerings. They woidd have fought the next 
day with in*esistible ardor. 

But if our men were now exultant, the tables were com- 
pletely tiu-ned ; the rebels were completely disheartened ; the 
officers more so than the men, and the generals more so than 
their subordinates. It is a soiTy chapter in the histoiy of 
war. They no longer thought of fighting, but of escape or 
surrender. Again a coiincil of war was called that night at 
General Floyd's headquarters, and in it was displayed a scene 
which no soldier likes to portray, even if his enemy be the 
dramatis per. ^omv — a scene in which imbecihty, ignorance, and 
cowardice played the prominent parts. Amid much crimina- 
tion and recrimination, one opinion seemed to have a large 
majority in its favor : the army must escape, or the place and 
its garrison be surrendered. Floyd, in gi-eat terror, lest after 
his treason and embezzlements while United States secretary 
of war, he should come into om* hands and meet with sum- 
mary retribution, in the clutches of a fimous soldiery, 
declared that he would not fall into our power ; that 
he would sooner die than siurender. He seems to have 
had Httlo concern for the army, but partly peihaps from 
qualms of conscience, and partly that he wanted a large 
escort, he proposed to cut his way out with his own brigade 
of Virginia troops — a nice illustration of the State-rights' 
principle, which even the Confederates did not appreciate. 

Pillow, ;«//• iinhih' fratrinii, second in command, emulated the 
virtues of his chief. Vain, fooUsh, ignorant, during the Mexi- 
can War, this was his Confederate coup d'essai, and he did not 

6 



6(5 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

disappoint liis old acquaintances. He displayed a similar want 
of moral and physical courage. 

It is time, as might be expected, that there is some casuistry 
in his report, to show that he wanted to fight longer ; and it 
is equally true, that after he had written his report, lest the 
world should not believe him, he did a thing unheard of be- 
fore, he got the aflida^its of his aids, and other officers, that 
what he had said was true — sharp practice, which he brought 
with him from his lawyer's desk. 

It is also true, that when the noble paii- had completed their 
arrangements for flight. Pillow told Floyd, not \\-ithout some 
chuckling, that there were no two men in the Confederacy the 
Federals would rather get into their hands ; whereas, in real- 
ity, lie was too much despised to be gi-eat game for us. 

All this is very sickening ; it savors of low comedy of the 
lowest tj-jje, We now turn to Buckner, the third in rank, and 
the only one of the three having any pretensions to sohlier- 
ship. He at least was a soldier ; and because of this, he was 
to be made the scapegoat, and to suffer, in part at least, a 
vicarious confinement at Fort Warren. His West Point ante- 
cedents compelled him to remain and smrender the now thor- 
oughly demoralized forces ; and if he could not avert, at least 
to share their fate. In the entire record of the war there is 
no meaner page than this. Floyd ma.To over the command to 
Pillow ; who, like a player at cards, " promptly passed it" to 
Buckner ; and then these two men, who had before disgi-aced 
the name of American, now disgraced the name of soklier, by 
deserting their post and their soldiers, and sneaking away un- 
der cover of night. In order to join and aid Floyd, as Buck- 
ner thought. Colonel Forrest was ordered to cut his way out 
with the cavalry ; but Floyd, embarking such portion of the 
Virginia brigade as he could hastily collect, upon two small 
steamers, at the Dover landing, under cover of a guard, to 
check the fi'antic attempts of others to get on board, and amid 
the execrations and hisses of thousands collected on the 
wharf, pushed off and fled to Nashville ! No wonder they were 
Buspcuded fi'om command, and called to account by Jefferson 



SMITHS ATTACK AND TUV. SI'RRKNDEIl. (57 

Davis; ])ut we do wonder i^Tcatly tli.-it a man o{ tlio Roldi(!rlv 
character of Albert Sidney Jolinston slionld have stooped to 
whitewasli thorn, hy dcndarinpj that, altliou^h " tlie command 
was irre^Mihuly transferred," it was "not a]i])arently to avoid 
any just responsibility, or from any jxrsonal or moral intre- 
j>idity." Tliat )i()f must have ^mvcti him some trouble to write. 
Buckner's course* was soon taken ; indeed his troops were 
in such confiision that no other was left him. At the earliest 
dawn ho sent a buj^der to sound a ])arley, and with him an of- 
ficer bearinj^ a white flag. Dimly discerned in the twilight, 
and challenged by the picket, the officer announced himself as 
the bearer of a letter from Buckner to General Grant. The 
letter was at once taken to the headquarters. A white flag 
displayed upon the fort at the same time, informed the army 
that a capitulation was proposed. Buckner's letter* asked for 
the appointment of commissioners to settle upon terms of ca- 
])itulation, to which end he requested an armistice till noon. 
Grant read the letter, and without a moment's hesitation 
penned a reply which has become historic. t " No terms," he 
wrote, " other than an unconditional and immediate surren- 
der can be accepted. I propose to move immediately u]>on 
your works." 

* IlEAnQUARTERs, FoRT PoxELSox, Ffbriiiiry 16, 1862. 
Sir — In consideration of all the circunistancos governing the present situa- 
tion of affaire at this station, I proposi- to the commanding officer of the Fed- 
eral forces the appointment of commissioners to agree upon terms of capitula- 
tion of the forces and fort under my command, and in that view suggest an 
armistice until twelve o'clock to-day. 

I am sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

S. B. BucKNEn, Brigadier-General C. S. A. 

t IlKADQrARTERS ArMT IN THE FlELD, 

Ciinip neur Douclsoii, Feb. 16, 1862. 
To Genkuai, S. B. Bcckiter, Con ff derate Army : 

Yours f)r this date, projiosing an armistice and appointment of c/immissioners 
to settle t«rm8 of rapituiatinn, is just ri'ceived. No terms other than an uneon- 
dUvnial and immediatf nurrendtr can be aeeepted. 1 propose to moe< imrrudi- 
atdy upon your roorka. 

1 am, sir, very rospoctfully, your obedient servant, 

U. 8. GR.VNT, Brigadier (Jeneral U. S. A., commanding. 



68 GRANT xiND fflS CAMPAIGNS. 

If -we do make some allowance for Buckuer's chagriu, it 
would be hard to palliate tlie unmilitary character of his re- 
ply to Grant's note.* TNlij shoidd " the brilliant success of 
the Confederate arms yesterday" affect Grant, except to make 
him the more strenuous to give them no further chance ? In 
what respect were his terms " ungenerous jind unchivah-ous ?" 
They were rebels in arms ; he had come there to destroy them, 
and to occupy their works ; and, besides, Buckner's immediate 
acceptance of the terms proposed was strangely inconsistent 
with the charge against Grant. The surrender was immediate 
and ujiconditional. The work was given up, with thii-teen 
thousand five hundi'ed men as prisoners of Avar, three thou- 
sand horses, forty-ei.ijht field-pieces, seventeen heavy guns, 
twenty thousand muskets, and an immense quantity of stores.t 
Two regiments of Tennessee troops, numbering fourteen hun- 
dred and seventy-five, came up to re-enforce Donelson on the 
day after the capitulation, and were taken prisoners, greatly 
to their sui^^rise. This is in itself a comment ujjon the dis- 
graceful character of the capitulation. It took the Confed- 
eracy by surprise. 

Thus the laipture of the rebel strategic line was completed, 
and the Cumberland and Tennessee opened to our armies. 
Thus, moreover, in the midst of our disasters, delays, incerti- 
tude, and imbecility, we had at length a bright prospect of a 



* FEBRrARY, 16, \S62. 

To Brigadier-Gekeral U. S. Grant, U. S. A. : 

Sm — The distribution of the forces under my command, incident to an unex- 
pecttd change of commanders, and the overwhelming force under your com- 
mand, compel me, notwithstanding the brilliant success of the Confederate 
arms yesterday, to accept the imgeneroiis and \inchivalrous terms which you 

propose. 

I am, sir, your very ol)cdient servant, 

S. B. BucKNER, Brigadier-General C. S. A. 

f We quote the number from Pollard, who seems, however, to have forgot- 
ten that he had said before in his narrative that, they had only tliirtoen thou 
sand troops in all. What account does he mak*' of the losses in battle, and of 
those who fled with Floyd and Forrest 1 



SMITHS ATTACK AM) lili; SIItRKNOKR. (V.) 

comniander, only as yet a subordinate, iiidcicd, hut oru- wlio 
could botli plan and lij^lit; and who, \vL«'n others should fail, 
mi^ht bo relied on, as ho has since proved liiniself, the ho|)o 
of the army, and the prop of the country. It was proved, 
also, that our troops were possessed of valor, dash, and forti- 
tude;. "For four successive ni^dits, without shelti-r, during 
the most inclement weather known in that latitude, they had 
faced an enemy in large, force, in a position chosen by him- 
.self," and luul "secured the gi'oatest number of prisoners of 
war [n\i to that time) ever taken in battle on this continent." 
Those arc the words of General Grant's order announcing the 
victory. The confession of the rebels is no less strong. "The 
display of courage," says Pollard, " on the part of the Federal 
troops was unquestionable, . . . and many of our otticers 
did not hesitate to express the opinion that the Western 
troops, particularly from Southern Illinois, Minnesota, and 
Iowa, were as good fighting material as there was to be 
found on the continent."" "W'e are content, although he 
vents his spleen in the same paragraph against the Eastern 
troops. 

We regret, even in an abstract military point of view, n(>t 
to be able to retiu'n his compliment. The comments of mili- 
tary criticism must be entirely unfavorable to the Confederate 
army in this series of actions. When Grant first accosted the 
work, he was in weaker force than they absolutely, and emi- 
nently so when we consider the proportion estabhshed by 
military science between an army holding strong works and a 
force of besiegers. 

It is no after-thought, based upon later knowledge, which 
leads us to say that they should have gone forth to meet his 
advancing column fi*om Fort Henry, and delivered a fierce 
battle, so as, at least, to cripple him, and keei) him for a time 
from coming to the siege. Secomlly : when he had come up, 
with Smith and McClernand alone, they should have sallied 
from the entiie hue of their intrenchnieut.s, and driven him 

♦ Pollard, Kirtit Year 2 IG. 



70 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

back ; not waiting for Wallace to come up and re-enforce him. 
And finally, even after the defection of Flojd and Pillow, 
Buckner should have fought to the last. His thirteen thou- 
sand men, with the re-enforcements that were coming, should 
surely have held that army at bay, or, at least, have made a 
more vahant fight before surrender. But the morale in war, 
like the imagination of man, scorns all niles ; and Buckner's 
conduct, which he defends on the score of humanity, — declar- 
ing that three-fourths of his army would be cut to pieces if he 
should attempt to evacuate, — is only really exphcable if we 
beheve that his men, deserted by their commanders, would 
not fight, and that numbers, had they been doubled, were 
utterly valueless in such a case. We have a better opinion of 
Buckner than to be content with his own excuse ; if his men 
would have fought, Buckner would have led them : there was 
no more fight in them. 

The news of the Fort Donelson victory — anxiously hoped 
for, though but tremblingly expected — flashed in telegraphic 
lightnings over the land,* and intoxicated the lojixl but almost 
despairing people with joy. The great cities were illuminated, 
in pubUc buildings and private residences alike ; and waving 
flags fi'om every house attested the almost universal senti- 
ment. National salutes echoed to each other fi'om cities, and 
forts, and armies ; Grant's name was on e'V'ery Kp ; and the 
least the Government could do it did, by making him a Major- 
General of Volunteers, to date fi'om the day of the sui'reuder. 



* Cairo, February 17, 1S62. 
To Major-General McClellan : 

7'he Uiiii/u Jlag Jlunts over Fort Donehon. The Carondelet, Captain Walko 
brinjj^ the gl(jrioiis iutelligenco. 

Tho fort surrondcrcd at nine o'clock yesterday (Sunday) morning. General 
Buckner and about fifteen thousand prisoners, and a large amount of material 
of war, are the trophies of the victory. Loss hea\'y on both sides. 

Floyd, tho thief, stole away during the lught previous with five thousand 
men, and is dtnouiicfd by the nbels as a traitor. I am happy to inforiu you 
tliat Flag-oflitvr ri>oti', though suflfiTing with his foot, with the uoble cliarac- 
teristic of our navy, notwithstanding his disability, will take up inimidiately 
two guuboutJ, and with tho eiglit mortar-boats, which he will overtake, will 



SMITHS ATTACK AND THE SURRENDER. 71 

•His order tells the story remarkably well.* Ho was to move 
forwiinl without dt'lay to still grcatin- triumphs. 

"Without tho sli;^'ht(>st ilispanigrnunt t(j auy of the })rav« 
commanders in that siege, it is our duty and our pleasure to 
make especial mention of him who, next to Gi'neral Crraut, was 
the hero of Fort Donelson— General Charles Ferguson Smitli, 
tho loader of the assault on the rebel right, which decided the 
fortune of the day. 

It is the more his due, because this gallant, vi-teran soldier 
died soon after, at the opening of a new and what promised 
to be a most brilliant chapter in his life ; and, in watching the 
progress of oiu* H^•ing heroes, it is the tendency of human 
nature to forget the honor due the dead. The more perfect 

make an immediate attack on Clarksville, if the state of the weather will per- 
mit. We are now firing a national salute from Fort Cairo, (Jencral Grant a 
late poet, in honor of the glorious achievement. 

[Signed] (jeo. W. Ccxlum, 

Brig.-Gen. Vols, and U. S. A., and Chief of Staff and Engineers. 

* General Ouders, No. 2. 

HSADQDARTERS DI8TBICT OS WesT TEJTKEaai*, 

FoKT DoxELSox, Fcbruurj 17, 1S62. 

The general commanding takes great pleasure in congratulating the troops 
of this command for the triumj.h over rebellion, gained by their valor, on tho 
thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth instant. 

For four successive nights, without shelter, during the most inclement 
weather known in this latitude, they faced an enemy in large force, in a posi- 
tion chos.n by himself. Though strongly fortified by nature, all the additional 
safeguards suggesU'd by science were added. Without a murmur thi.s wa-s 
borne, prepared at all times to receive an attack, and, with fontinuoiis skir- 
mishing by day, resulting ultimately in forcing the enemy to surrender with- 
out a)nditions. 

The victory achieved is not only great in the effect it will have in breaking 
down rebellion, but has secured the greatest number of prisoners of war ever 
taken in any buttle on this continent. 

Fort Donelson will hereafter be marked in capitals on the map of our 
united a)untry. and the men who fought the battle will live in the memory of 
a grateful people. 

By order, 

U. S. Grant, Brig.-Oen. commanding. 



72 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

heau ideal of a soldier never existed in any army than was 
General Smith. We do not design to give a record of his life, 
nor to pen an adequate eulogium. 

The son of a surgeon in the army, he was early imbued with 
the military spirit. He graduated at the Military Academy 
in 1825 ; and fi-om 1829 to 1842 he was on duty there as 
assistant instinictor of tactics, adjutant, and finally as com- 
mandant of cadets. The author's recollection of him as com- 
mandant is of a model soldier — a daily example to the cadets 
of splendid dignity, gi-eat manliness, and magnificent jDcrsonal 
appearance. We all feared him, but thoroughly respected 
him ; and we believe no commandant ever accomplished as 
much for the discipline of "the corps as he did. He was one 
of the marked men in the army. No one was astonished at 
his sijlendid conduct in Mexico. In the battles of the valley, 
he commanded a Hght battahon of picked men ; and he was 
so distinguished that he received three brevets — as major, 
lieutenant-colonel, and colonel. 

At the outbreak of the rebellion he fell, for a shoi-t time, 
under the displeasiu-e of the Government, for reasons never 
divulged, and was not made a brigadier-general until August, 
1861 ; but, opportunity once offered him, the beauty and valor 
of his charge at Donelson, under the discriminating eye of 
Grant, who had formerly been his pupil, won for him imme- 
diatel}' an aj^pointment as major-general. 

Pending the battle of Pittsburg Landing, he was lying sick 
at Savannah, Tennessee, where he died on the 25th of April. 
An accomplished general ; a superb soldier ; a dignified and 
puuetiHously honorable gentleman ; a splendid specimen of a 
man ; — such is an epitome of his record, made with melan- 
choly but grateful pleasure by one of his admii-ing pupils, who 
owes to his instniction far more than such a shght acknow- 
ledgment can repay. 



Note. — Notwithstanding the bitter rcbi'l spirit wliich pervades Pollard's 
work, I desire to tsay that it is, in iiumy ca.si'S, very fair and just. He certainly 
J8 not afraid to criticise his own people ; and in his " Chronology of the War," 



SMITHS ATTACK AND THE SURRENDER. 73 

be always calls a Confedorato defeat by its rif^lit iiaitu) Bcldom iihtdrtrtcntlt/ 
naming it a victory. 

I luive wadtKl witb patience and weariness tbroajjb the sbalUnv and turbid 
waters of the olHtiiil Conff<lerat4' reports, finding little that i.s worth reprodo- 
cinp in the narrative. Those of F'lovd and Pillow are exainjiles of s|)ecial jdi-ad- 
ing to cover their base desertion. That of Buckner is a succinct account of his 
straits ; not without sneers, both dreigned and unconscious, at his superiors, 
who, when they had surrendered the coinniaml, n.'^ketl to be permitted to with- 
draw their troojw. Tliemoat useful is that of Lieutenant-Colonel Jtilmer, late an 
officer of our engineers, and chief-engineer of Johnston's rebel army, — from 
which I have taken some details as authentic. The report of Major William 
Brown, of the Twentieth Mississippi, is the boldest in the denunciation of 
" seniors, who endeavor to escape by throwing the responsibility upon juniors." 



74: GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 



CHAPTEE yill. 

PREPAIUTIONS FOR A NEW ADVANCE. 

Grant's enlarged command. — General Buell co-opehates with IIallecx. — Ai>- 
MiNisTRATioN.— Discipline, justice, humanity. — Nashville falls. — Surprise or 
the PEOPLE. — A. S. Johnston retires to Mcrfreesboro'. — Tub ascent of the 
Tennessee.— Corinth threatened.— Islant) No. 10— Seals the river.— Thk 
position described. — Pope takes New Madrid. — General Mackall and the 
American Thermopyl.*. — Schoyleb Hamilton's can;al. — The capture and 
rout. 

Grant's spliere of action was at once enlarged. Bj an 
order of General Halleck, bearing date of FebiiiaiT 14, 1862, 
he had been assigned to the new district of West Tennessee, 
embracing the territory from Cairo, between the Mississippi 
and Cumberland rivers, to the Mississippi liorder, with his 
headquarters in the field. Moving his army by tlie west bank 
of the Cumberland, he co-operated with the gimlxKits in their 
ascent of the river. Under Commodore Foote. 

When General Halleck had been assigned, in the November 
preceding, to the Department of the Missoiu-i, the Department 
of the Ohio had been confided to Brigadier-General Don 
Carlos Buell. His command comprised the States of Ohio, 
Michigan, Indiana, that portion of Kentucky east of the 
Cumberland, and the State of Tennessee. Portions of these 
two armies, thus divided by the Cumberland, were soon to 
come together, and form a combination against the enemy. 
In the mean time, however, Clarksville, on the east bank of 
the Cumberland, was evacuated by the enemy, and occupied 
by our forces on the 20th of February, — large ipiantities of 
stores being found there. The gunboats wore then pushed on 
towards Nashville. The rebels were, in gi-eat haste, seeking a 



PREPAKAI li'NS FoU A M'.W ADVANCE 75 

new lino ; and it was of vast importance so to hurry them, 
that they sliould tiiid this a difficult or troublesome task. 

CJrant's admuiistration of his new district was energetic, 
antl his preparations for a new advance were rapidly made. 
He establisheil martial law over West Tennessee ; and ordered 
that " Tennessee, by her reV)i'llion, havin;^ i^iorcd all laws of 
the United States, no courts will bo allowed to a<;t under 
State autlu)rity ; but all cases comin<^ within reach of the' mil- 
itary arm will be adjudicated by the authorities the Govern- 
ment has established within the State." To guard against all 
license in the conduct of his troops, he repubhshed General 
Halleck's order, that they should "let no excesses on their 
part tarnish the glory of their army." The course of justice 
was tempered with humanity ; and when it was necessary to 
take su]i}ihes and subsistence for his troops from citizens, he 
ordereil that the demands should be as light as jtossible, — so 
distributed as to produce no distress, and in every case re- 
ceipted for. Justice and consideration to citiztMis not in arms, 
and succor to the poor, when oppressed by Union men or 
rebels, has always been his mle, — a course of action prompted 
by priucijile, and never intermitted on accoimt of })ubhc 
opinion or political pressui'e. 

Nash^'ille, where Johnston had only remained to await the 
issue of the fighting at Donelson, was abandoned as soon as 
that fortress fell, and was occupied on Sunday evening, Feb- 
ruary '23d, by Colonel Kennet, of the Fourth Ohio cavalry, of 
General O. M. Mitchell's division.* On the 3d of March, Co- 
lund)us, the second Gibraltar of the West (Bowling Green was 
the first, and Vicksbui-g was to be the third), fell before the 
strategy of Halleck and Buell, and the splendid battle tactics 
of Grant. Fort Henry was the first act in tin* ])rocess of 
destnictit)n : Fort Donelson dealt an additional blow to the 
tottering ruin. 

The fidl of Nashvillo was a terrible blow. The rebel his- 



* Tlic surrender is publicly believed to have boon made to General Nelson, 
bat that officer did nut urrive with his division until tlireo daya after. 



76 GRANT AN'D HIS CAilPAIGNS. 

torian compares the effect to the shock of an earthquake, 
when the congregations in the churches heard that the Fed- 
erals were coming.* The people had been entu-ely deceived, 
or lulled into security. No one anticipated such a fate. 

Johnston moved with his main body to Miu-freesboro', leav- 
ing to Floyd and Forrest (who had just "reti-eated" from 
Donelson) the duty of removing or destroying the suppUes ; 
while a mob, ravenous for spoils, " secured and secreted gov- 
ernment stores enough to open respectable groceries." The 
evacuation of Columbus, also, was a gi-eat blow to them, and 
a great acquisition to us ; but it was a mihtary necessity — a 
sequence in the inexorable logic of the war. The works 
were of immense strength, consisting of tier on tier of bat- 
teries on the river-fi'ont, and a strong parapet and ditch, 
crossed by a thick abatis, on the land side,t and a vast chain, 
to stop the passage of the Mississippi. 

The fleet was now withdrawn down the Cumberland, and a 
portion of it sent up the Tennessee, over the ground aheady 
so adventurously reconnoitred by the expedition of Lieutenant- 
Commander Phelps. That river General Halleck designed to 
be a most important line of operations for Grant's ai-my ; and 
Grant was jDutting out his antenna? to feel his way to the ter- 
rible battle-field of Pittsburg Landing. Making his temporary 
headquarters at Fort Henry, — where, indeed, he was detained 
by department orders, for causes not publicly diAidged,:J;-he 
began a new organization of his forces, for this still more 
dithcult campaign. The troops, as they came iip from every 
direction, were pushed forward as rapitUy as possible, under 
General C. F. Smith, to Savannah, about twenty miles from 
the Mississippi line, and to other adjacent points ; and as they 
moved forward, it was evident to the Confederates that their 
great route of communication from cast to west, by the Mem- 
phis and Charleston Pailroad, was threatened. This road 
crosses the Mobile and Ohio Paihoad at the little village of 
Corinth ; and the jimction there was seen at a glance, by the 



Pollard, First Year of the War, p. 246. t Gem-ral CuUum's dispatch. 

} See note at t-nd of the cliaiitor. 



PREPARATIONS FOR A NFAV ADVANCE. 77 

generals of liotli aiiiiics, to bo u ]i<>int of great strategic 
iin]>ort:uu't\ (Irani was inarcliing down to attack or ilank it, 
and cut the railroad ; and the rebels, with wise foresight, and 
praiseworthy valor, — a ditlerent spirit from tiiat displayed at 
Fort Henry and Fort Dondson, — determined to hazard a 
battle, and strike a stunning blow in its defence, at some dis- 
tance north of it, on the Tennessee. For onco they had good 
generals — " foenu^n worthy the steel" of Grant — men who, in a 
just cause, would have gained immortal renown. 

ISLANT) NO. 10. 

Before, however, attempting a delineation of the gieat 
battle of Pittsburg Landing, we must retm-n for a brief space 
to the Mississippi River, which, having been for a time elfect- 
uallv barred by the fortitications of Columbus, needed a new 
seal and barrier, when, on the 3d of March, those works were 
dLsmautlod and abandoned by General Polk. Tliat fieiy pre- 
late had been directed to " select a defensive position below ;" 
and, mo^•ing his forces to the river, had, by the aid of liis en- 
gineers, arranged strong defences at Island No. 10, the main 
land in Madrid bend, and at the town of New Matbid." 

This was part of a concerted plan ; Johnston was moving 
southward by the left bank of the Tennessee to defend Mem- 
phis, where strong works were erected. Vicksbiu-g, with its 
river-knot in fi-ont, was strong by nature, and also fortified by 
the engineer's art. New Orleans was, to all seeming, in rebel 
possession until " the crack of doom," and the forts below it 
seemed to preclutle ajiproach from the Gulf. 

Among the most loyal men there were many who doul)ted 
the practicability of clearing the Mississippi ; and until that 
should bf done, all doubted the downfall of the rebellion. 
The Father of Waters had submitted to the rebel chain, and 
there wa^ no patriot sword or battle-axe which could strike oflf 



* The principal islands in tho Mississippi, be{,nnning just below the moath 
of the Ohio, are numbered down the rivir. I.'iland No. 1 lies juat below Cairo. 



78 GRANT AND IIIS CA^FPAIGNS. 

the accursed links. It was a gif^antic task, for wliicli neither 
workman nor implements seemed to hare been yet found. 

Island No. 10 is about forty-five miles below Columbus. It 
lies nearly in mid-channel, and is about a mile long and a half 
mile in breadth at its widest part. Its armament consisted 
principally of four heavy batteries on the island, sweeping the 
main channel, and seven on the Kentucky and Tennessee 
shores, most of the guns lla^•ing been brought from Colum- 
bus. To define its situation a little more clearly, the river, 
which above it flows westward, makes a bend to the south ; 
then to the west and north, in which is the island ; and again, 
eight miles below, a turn to the south, on which, upon the 
right bank, is New Madi'id. Point Pleasant is a village on 
the right bank, about ten miles below New Madrid ; while Tip- 
tonville is on the opposite bank, a short distance below Point 
Pleasant. The double bend, in the form of an irregular and 
inverted S, with the island and the town at the extreme points, 
with peninsulas thus formed, cutting off in the one case nine 
miles, and in the other twenty, seems exactly formed to take 
the eye of the strategist and engineer. 

The works on the island, and the suj)porting batteries on 
the left bank, ha\ang been completed, the old Pelican dock of 
New Orleans was brought up, armored, and converted into a 
floating battery ; the rebel gunboats nestled mider the bat- 
teries ; forts were erected at New Madrid, and the entii-e de- 
fences of Island No. 10 were declared to be very strong — at 
least, a sort of semi-Gibraltar. 

It mattered little to the Confederacy that General John 
Pope was dispatched against them ; and, even when he had 
captiu-ed Point Pleasant, they felt httle concern. They were 
still more exultant when the nine hours' bombifi'dmenl bv Flaer- 
Officer Foote failed of results. Ho had, in order to test the 
strength of the works, moved down with a fleet, ccnisisting of 
five gimboats and four niortar-boats, from Hickman, twenty 
miles above, and his bombardment had seemed to prodxice no 
effect. 

Pope's first essay was to take New Madrid ; and this he sue- 



PREPARATIONS FOR A NEW ADVANCE. 79 

coeded in doin^', notwithstandinf^ the efforts of Commode )ro 
HoUius with tlio rebel <j^iulioats to ])revent liirn. Tims, while 
Foote wiis coming down to try the defences idjtjve, he received 
infonmition from Pope that, under fire of his sicgc-puns, the 
enemy had evacuated the town, that the river Avas closed be- 
low, and that there vas no escape for the garrison l)y water. 
The first act was done, and well done. 

But, allliough shut up by water, the garrison was strong, 
tlie works numerous and powerful, and the island woidd seal 
the rivi'r for ils, until they should be reduced. 

Tlie rebel force consisted of about eight thousand men, 
commanded by Brigadier-General W. W. Mackall, who had 
assumed command on the oth of March, — so much a stranger 
to his own troops, that he deemed it necessary to rest his 
merits in their eyes upon the fact that he was " a general 
made by Bragg and Beamegard." He was a graduate of West 
Point, and, as an assistant adjutant-general in our service, 
had been esteemed a good officer ; but he promised too much 
at the island, and failed. His promises and his energy, how- 
ever, had given new hope to the Confederacy. They con- 
sidered us checkmated in the river game : at the least, it was 
to be " an American Thermopyla}." The rebel generals were 
fond of Grecian and Pioman precedents, but the comparison 
was never complete. 

Although thus hemmed in by Pope's army on the south, 
and the gimboats on the north, they would, however, have 
kept the river sealed against us for some time, had it not been 
for a plan conceived by General Schuyler Hamilton, who 
commanded a division in Pope's army. 

The overflow in the river-bottom rendered it impossible for 
Pope to march Lis troops from New Madrid to the vicinity of 
the Union gimboats, and he had no transports to cany them 
across to any point south of the island. Could that passage 
be madi', the strong works would be taken in rear by a land 
force, and must fall. 

Hamilton's suggestion was this : to cut a navigable passage 
across the peninsvda above New Madrid, by which to float the 



80 GRA^'T AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

transports across. This herculean task was at once executed, 
and with perfect success. 

In nineteen days our army had completed a canal twelve 
miles long, and fifty feet wide, a portion of it through heavy 
timber, which had to be sawed off four and a half feet under 
water by the hand. The work was done under the superin- 
tendence of Colonel J. W. Bissell, with his engineer regiment. 
The passage was pronounced ready, Foote again engaged the 
enemy, and while one gunboat was attracting, or rather dis- 
tracting, the attention of Paicker"s Battery, the Carondelet 
slipi^ed past them all, and ran down to New Madrid. This 
was on the night of the 4th of April. On the 6th, at 
nightfall, the Pittsbui-g hkewise ran the batteries, not without 
some damage ; and, on the same night, a fleet of steamboats 
and transport barges came through the canal, took on our 
troops at New Madrid, carried them over to the Ten- 
nessee shore, and the impregnable works fell like the 
waUs of Jericho. Where now was their boasted strength ? 
Would they immortaUze their American Thermopyla? ? Alas, 
for their vain-glorying ! There was no intreindity, no 
dignity ; the scene was pitiable in the extreme. They 
had shown gieat skill in putting themselves into traps : 
the attempt to escape was panic, confusion, utter imbe- 
cility. One hundred and twenty-four guns were taken, 
most of them uninjm-ed. The attempt at spikmg, by the 
hands of those eager to fly, was an entii-e failm-e. Theii* 
boats, not effectually scuttled, were most of them recovered 
by our men. The floating-battery was time to her name ; 
although scuttled, she would not sink, but was found high and 
di-y near Point Pleasant, and was immediately put in com- 
mission, as chief of the United States nondescripts. The 
number of prisoners actually accounted for at the suiTender 
was not more than three thousand, but himtkeds upon hun- 
dreds of stai-iing WTctches wandered among the swamps in 
heir efforts to escape, most of whom fell into oiu' hands, and 
were glad at the last to escape starvation on the terms of im- 
prisonment or parole. 



PREPARATIONS FOR A NEW ADVANCE. 81 

Again liail tlio soklicrs of the Confederacy been duped bj 
their leaders ; again had the people been beguiled into false 
securitv. A glance at the map will show to any military eye, 
that Island No. 10 was only a temporary expedient. Strong 
as an isolated point, it could be flanked, surrounded, perfectly 
invested, and then its very isolation made it a cage. Its fall 
was certain ; and the value of their boasted strategy is indi- 
cated, when we remember that Polk evacuated Columbus on 
the 3d of March ; Mackall took command of the island de- 
fences on the 5th ; and just one day over a month— that is, on 
the 6th of April — our transports were going down to New 
Madritl. The formal siirrender was made on the 8th. 

Although General Grant had no immediate connection vath 
these operations, we have dwelt upon them as forming a part 
of the great problem, a knowledge of which is needed to en- 
able us to take in the entire scope of action. And now, after 
this glance at the coUateral and contemporaneous movements 
by Pope, let us return to Grant. 

Note. — After the battle of Fort Donelson, Grant had gone (Feb. 26) to Nash- 
ville to confer with Buell. Some malignant persons had reported this to HaJ- 
leck and to Washington, and it was made a cause of complaint against him. 
Add to this, that the state of his command, on account of constant marcliings, 
battl<s, sicknt'ss, detachments, and re-enforcements, made it difficult for him 
to nport its exact condition ; for this, fault was found with him. He was 
also blamed for letting C. F. Smith go to Nashville with his division. And 
to his utter astonishment, he was, on March 4th, ordered to turn over the 
command of his forces moving up the Tennessee to C. F. Smith, while he 
was to remain at Fort Henry. A correspondence took place between himself 
and Halleck, in which he asked to be relieved entirely from duty — taking es- 
p«.cial umbrage at an anonymous letter which had been sent vilifying him. 
But he was restored to duty and full command, and Gi-neral Halleck wrote a 
letter to the headquarters of the army removing all misconceptions. He as- 
sumes general command March 14th. 

6 



g2 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 



CHAPTER IX. 

grant's new campaign, 

PiTTSBCRo Landing. — The landing. — Grant's dispositions. — The rebel advance. — 
Johnston's proclamation. — The attack on Prentiss.— On Sherman, Hurlbut, 
McClernand, and Wallace. — The situation at ten o'clock. — Rebel losses. — 
The gunboats. — Webster's Artillery. — Surgeon Cornttn. — The final attack 
ON Sunday. — Lewis Wallace arrives. — His delay. — Monday morning. — Buku. 
ON THE field. — Battle on the left — On the right. — Beauregard retires. — 
Comments. 

The field of Pittsburg Landing had been selected by Gen- 
eral C. F. Smitli," wlio had immediate command of the troops 
in the field, and who soon acquired information of the rebel 
designs. It was on the west bank of the Tennessee, and for 
the most part densely wooded with tall trees, and but httle 
undergi'owth. The lauding is immediately flanked on the left 
by a short but precipitous ravine, along which runs the road 
to Corinth. On the right and left, forming a good natural 
flanking aiTangement, were Snake and Lick creeks, which 
would compel the attack of the enemy to be made in front. 
The distance between the mouths of these creeks is about two 
and a half miles. The locality was well chosen. The landing 
was protected by the gunboats Tyler and Lexington. Buells 
Army of the Ohio was coming up to re-enforce Grant ; and 
although the river lay in our rear, that was the direction of 
advance. Just at that time it was the best possible thing for 
our army to fight a battle, and the moral effect of a victory 
would be invaluable to our cause. 

Grant, who arrived at Savannah on the 17th of March, a 
point from which he could best oversee his whole force, keep ac- 

* Shornian's letter to the editor of the United States Service Magaine, 
January, 18G5. 



^9 




GRANT'S NEW ("AMIWION. 83 

connt of liis ro-oiiforccMnonts, and d.iily visit liis detachments, 
had placed the live divisions of Prentiss, McClcrnand, W. H. 
Wallace, nurll)ut, and Sherman. Lewis Wallace's division 
was thus disposed : the tirst brigade at Crump's Landing; tho 
second two miles above it ; the third at Adamsville ; all ready 
to concentrate and move down to join the main force when- 
ever circumstances should render it necessary.* 

Grant's force on the field was thus arranged : Prentiss was 
on the left, about a mile and a half from the landing, facing 
southward ; McClernand at some distance on his right, facing 
southwest ; Sherman at Sliiloh Church, on the right of Mc- 
Clernand, and in advance of him ; Hurlbut and Wallace a 
mile in rear of McClernand, in reserve, the former supporting 
the h-ft, and the latter tho right wing. The whole force was 
about thirty-eight thousand men. 

To attack and overwhelm Grant's Army of the Tennessee, 
before the Army of the Ohio could arrive, was Beauregard's 
pui-pose ; for that general had, in his headquarters at Corinth, 
planned the whole movement, and even while Johnston was on 
the field, was looked upon as the leader. By the fall of John- 
ston, he became also the nominal commander, on the after- 
noon of the first day. 

Beauregard had been very diligent in collecting troops from 
every available quarter, and although Grant had assumed the 
offensive, the rebel leader took the initiative in a very hand- 
some manner. Bragg's corps had been brought from Mobile 
and Peusacola ; Polk had come down with the gi'eater part of 
his troops from the evacuation of Columbus ; and Johnston had 
brought up his reserve army, which had retreated from Nash- 
ville to Murfreesboro'. These concentrated forces, first hav- 
ing been disposed as an army of observation, along the Mobile 
and Ohio Railroad, from Bethel to Corinth, and along the 
Memphis and Charleston llaih'oad, fi'om Corinth to luka, were 
now informed of the work before them. 

* Owing to Smith's severe sickness, and McClemand's dissatisfaction at being 
aimniandod by a junior, tirant assumed the imnudiaU command of tho expe- 
dition, March 31. 



84 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

What Beauregard hoped to eflfect, we can only now conjec- 
ture. His report, made after his discomfiture, declares — 
Gredat Judceus — that it was only to stun our army, take our 
stores, and then return to Corinth. 

The advance of the rebels was not -without some premoni- 
tions. There was shght sldrmishing at Crump's Landing, on 
the 2d of April, and on the -ith a gi*and reconnoissance of our 
position was made, fi-om which, however, they rapidly retired. 
It was then kno-^Ti also that Beauregard expected to be re- 
enforced by the trans-Mississippi armies of Price and Van 
Dorn. 

On the 3d of April, General A. S. Johnston, their ostensible 
commander-in-chief, issued a stiiTing proclamation to the 
" Ai'my of the Mississippi,"^ and the march was begun. The 
rebel force thus set in motion, with high hopes and overween- 
ing fancies, was composed of the army corps of W. J. Hardee, 
Braxton Bragg, Leonidas Polk, and the reserves under Breck- 
inridge. 

Hardee's corps was in front, and contained the divisions of 
Hindnian, Cleburne, and Wood ; Bragg had two divisions, those 
of Buggies and Withers ; Polk had two, Clark's and Cheat- 
ham's ; Breckinridge's reserves were composed of the brigades 
of Trabue, Bowen, and Statham. 

* SOLDIKRS OF THE AjRMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI : 

I have put you in moti<m to offer battle to the invaders of your country, with 
the resolution, and discipline, and valor becoming men, fighting, as you arc, for 
all worth living or dying for. You can but march to a decisive victory over 
agrarian mirci-naries, sent to subjugate and desjx)il you of your liberties, 
pro])erty, and lionor. 

Remember the precious stake involved ; remember the dependence of your 
mothers, your wives, your sisters, and your children, on the result. Remember 
tlie fair, broad, abounding lands, tlie happy homes, that will be desolated by 
your defeat. The eyes and hopes of eight millions of people rest upon you. 
You are expected to show yourselves worthy of ytiur valor ami courage, worthy 
of the women of the South, whose noble devotion in this war has never been 
excei'dcd in any time. With such incentives to brave deeds, and with triLst 
that God is with us, your general will lead you confidently to tlie combat, as- 
sured of success. 

By order of General A. S. Jounston, commanding. 










? J ? ? 












:.-" 



-^x^ 



f-sfi:: :r r : i; < 

HfHH 



nRANT'P NEW CAMPAIGN. 86 

On Friday, tho -tth, fivt< ^iays' rations had been issued, — they 
expected to have hiter issues from our stores, wliieh they were 
goiuj; to capture. The rebel march was alouj^ tho numerous 
narrow and lieavy roads which converge towards the landing. 
They were unencumbered and hght, but it rained very heavily, 
and they were not able to get into position in our front until 
Saturday i light ; and then so weary and worn, that they were 
in no condition to attack without a night's rest. The great 
armies being now fairly in contact, the men lay down to their 
rest in silence. Those nearest our lines were allowed no fires, 
and there were no sounds of dnims or bugles which should 
disclose to us their position or their strength. Beauregard, 
weak from n'cent sickness, is the oracle of the more distant 
camp-fire at his headquarters ; he completes his dispositions, 
and gives to his commanders their orders for the morrow. 
He declares, that the next night they would sleep in our 
camps, which they did ; but if we may beheve the current 
report of the time, he also said, that the next day he would 
water his horse in the Tennessee or in h — 11. Fortunately — 
and perhaps unfortunately — he was enabled to do neither. 

But, it must be confessed, his plans were well conceived. 
Through spies, residents of the country, he had an intimate 
knowledge of the position and composition of Grant's army. 
He was in great hopes that Buell would not arrive in time to 
aid oiir forces ; *nd stealing upon us, to some extent una- 
w^ares, he and his generals were in admirable spirits ; and 
there was not one in that informal council, who did not feel 
sure of an easy and complete victory on the morrow. 

THE BATTLE. 

The morning of the tUh rose bright and clear — a lovely 
spring day. By three o'clock the rebel army had breakfasted, 
laid aside their knapsacks, and stripped to the bloody work. 
Portions of tho Union army were still wrapped in the most 
profound slumber ; others, nearer the enemy, were making 
lazy preparation for breakfast. Prentiss, warned, indeed, of 



86 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

an unusual demonstration in his front, but by no means sus- 
pecting that forty-five thousand men were about to spring 
upon him, had not only strengthened his pickets, but had sent 
out Colonel Moore, with five companies, to reconnoitre. The 
attack upon Moore was sudden, and he sent back in haste for 
re-enforcements, while he was falhng back. 

The shock had come : it was sudden and stunning. Pren- 
tiss was formed in two brigades. Peabody with the Twenty- 
fifth Mississippi, Fifteenth Wisconsin, and Twelfth Michigan, 
was first to bear the brunt. His second brigade was at the 
landing, but was at once hm-ried up. But it was too late. 
Prentiss was driven back in great confusion : some guns and 
a few prisoners were lost, A glance at the original position 
of Prentiss and Sherman, on the map, shows a wide gap be- 
tween them. Hurlbut is too far in the rear, and McClernand 
too far to the right. Into this gap Hardee jDushes ^dgorously, 
forming the first rebel line, strengthened by Gladden's brigade 
of Wither's di^-ision, sent by Bragg ; he is almost entirely 
unopposed, and thus he flanks not only the flying regiments 
of Prentiss, but those of Sherman, unless McClernand is 
ready in his support. Prentiss, re-enforced, endeavors to 
rally, but Bragg, whose corj^s forms the rebel second line, 
sends the rest of Wither's division to re-enforce Hardee ; Chal- 
mers attacks his left, Jackson his right. He is rolled up at both 
ends, soon enveloped, cut ofi" from the rest of the arm}' and the 
landing. Peabody is killed, and Prentiss and his division again 
driven back in confusion. He fights with varied fortunes during 
the day, but by an overwhelming charge of the rebels, is cap- 
tured, with the greater part of his division, late in the afternoon. 

Let us turn to Sherman. His line to the right and rear of 
Shiloh church was thus formed and arranged : Hildebrand's 
brigade, of three Ohio and one Illinois regiments, was on the 
left ; Buckland's, of three Ohio regiments, in the centre ; and 
McDowell, with one Ohio, one Illinois, and one Iowa, on the 
right. His artillery, under Captain Taylor, was at the church. 
Sherman's pickets were driven in about sunrise, and his line 
hastily formed. To the men it was something of a surprise. 



QRANTS NEW CAMPAKiN. 87 

Some run iu cuufusiou, but most of them .stood firm, "nhUo 
Taylor's guns opened on the enemy's advance. Here, also, 
the contest was to be for a time unocjual. llu;^«^les' division 
of Bragg's corps, with Hodgsou's Battery, attacked him in 
front, wliilo Hardee, having routed Prentiss, executed a left 
half-wheel, to flank and envelop Sherman, llugglos' brigades 
were commanded by Gibson, Anderson, and Pond. Sher- 
man's position at the church was on a ridge, and a creek lay 
in front. The first effort to stay the rebel tide was a charge 
by Hildebrand, Init he was soon compelled to fall back Ijeforo 
the enemy's numbers and vigor ; and, in .spite of our attack, 
the admirable fire of Taylor's guns, the help of McClemand, 
tlie splendid gallantry of Sherman, the rebels crossed the 
creek and surged upon our line, and into the gap on Sherman's 
left flank. Checked again and again by Taylor's fire, the tide 
swelled on, until at length an enfilading fire on our left com- 
pelled Sherman to fall back, with the loss of three of Water- 
house's guns ; for, while this terrible struggle w^as going on 
on the left of Sherman, his right and centre were akso hotly 
engaged. Bucklaud and McDowell were sustauiing a vigor- 
ous attack from Pond's and Anderson's brigades, which ad- 
vanced with a heavy artillery fire. Thus Sherman's flanks 
were rolled back, and he was compelled to take up a new po- 
sition, which, however, he was not permitted to hold long ; 
for Polk, ^dth the third rebel line, had come up to aid Bragg, 
and they were moving to Sherman's rear, who was thus in 
danger of being cut off from the landing and from the rest of 
the army. His last position was taken up on a ridge, with his 
left flank on a run, covering the bridge across Snake Creek, by 
which he expected the arrival of Lewis Wallace's division. 

In describing so confused a battle, we must not attempt to 
interweave the actions of the various commanders in one nar- 
rative, but to keep each distinct, until, by an array of the facts, 
we are able to combine and collate them. Having thus briefly 
disposed of the divisions of Sherman and Prentiss, and having 
brought upon the field the rebel force, Hardee, Bragg, and 
Polk — all, except Breckinridge's reserves — we are now ready 



88 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

to notice the parts played by Hnrlbut, McClemand, and W. 
H. L. Wallace, both in support of the advanced troops, and 
in separate actions of their ovm. 

Hurlbut's division was composed of the brigades of Yeatch, 
WiUiams, and Lamnan, and a light battery was attached to 
each brigade. Upon the first urgent request of Prentiss, he 
had sent him Veatch's brigade ; and as that had been unable 
to stem the tide, he formed Williams and Lauman, with bat- 
teries on the right and left, in a cotton-field on the Hamburg 
road, and there awaited the advancing rebels. In came Pren- 
tiss's command in hot haste, and on came Withers, pursuing. 
Meyer's battery, which had been placed on the left, was de- 
serted by the gunners, but Prentiss called for volunteers to 
man it, and a dozen men came forward ; they held their posi- 
tion, while Prentiss's debris were rallying in rear. This was 
the darkest hour, and Hurlbut and Wallace, who had been 
held in reserve, were now to bear the brunt of the battle. 
Hurlbut and MoClcrnand were slowly pressed back until they 
came upon a line with the camps of Wallace's di^ision. Pren- 
tiss was a prisoner, and his division broken up. Sherman 
had been forced back, and Hildebrand's brigade cut to pieces. 
The regiments sent by McClemand to Sherman had been very 
much cut up. Many guns were lost, and the rebels had di-iven 
our forces a mile, and were in oiu* camps. 

As far as mathematical statements and lines can indicate 
such a confused condition of things, the order at ten o'clock 
was the following : Colonel Stewart, of Sherman's division, who 
had been posted on the Hamburg road in the morning, far to 
the left, and who had held his position most gallantly against 
the overwhelming numbers of Breckinridge's reserves, had 
been slowly driven back to join Hurlbut's loft, in spite of the 
re-enforccu¥"nts of McAi-thui-'s brigade of Wallace's di'sision. 
Next came Hurlbut, who had posted himself to resist the 
rebel advance ; and behind him were the fugitives of General 
Prentiss. McClernand was on his right and rear ; and Sher- 
man's left in rear of McClernand. 

General William H. L. Wallace had sent McArthur's bri- 



OHANTS NEW CAMPAIGN. 89 

pade to support Stewart, but it had lost its way, and was 
unable to join Stewart, who had, as wo have seen, been 
obhged to liill back. As it was now manifest that tho fury of 
the rebel attack was to be directed to our left, General Wal- 
lace marched his other brigades over to join Mc Arthur, thus 
tilling tlie space so threatened upon Hurlbut's left, and to(»k 
with him three Missouri batteries — Stone's, Richardson's, and 
Webber's- all under Major Cavender. Here, from ten o'clock 
until four, this devoted force manfully sustained the terrific 
fire and frequent attack of the continually increasing foe. 
Upon Wallace and Hurlbut tho enemy made foiu* separate 
charges, which were splendidly repulsed. At length Hurlbut 
was obliged to fall back, and, theu* supports all gone, Wallace's 
division were satisfied that they too must retire. To add to the 
disorder, their commander. General Wallace, fell mortally 
wounded, and was carried fi*om the field. The artillery had 
done admirable execution. Stone's Battery, particularly, re- 
treating slowly, and tiring continually. 

The rebels had accomplished much, but they were paying 
dear for their experiment. Gladden and Hindman were 
killed ; and at half-past two a minic ball pierced General A. 
S. Johnston's leg, and the wound, though small, was mortal. 

But they had as yet far the best of it. We had lost 
Prentiss and three thousand prisoners, and the greater part 
of oiu- advanced artillery.* Tho river-banks are swarming 
with fugitives and skulkers, who, when asked why they do not 
return to the front, say their regiments are cut to pieces, or 
they cannot find them, and who resist aU the swearing, coax- 
ing, and storming of the oflScers sent to bring them back. 
But the action of the day is not yet at an end. The rebels 
have reacheJ the ravine, and, placing their gims in battery, 
they must clear a path for an infantry attack before they can 
drive away our forces, and seize the landing. And now the 
grand opportunity for our artillery, land and naval, has 



* Only the organizations of four regiments were captunil, viz., tho Eighth 
Twelfth, and Fourteenth Iowa, and tho Fifty-eighth Illinoia iniJantry. 



90 GRANT AND HIS ^AMPAIQNS. 

arriA^ed. Captain Gwin, of the Tjler, sends an officer to 
General Grant for permission to shell the woods and sweep 
the ravine. He is told to act according to his own judgment ; 
and he does it to good purpose. The Tyler and Lexington 
open, and sweep the ravine — enfilading the rebel lines and 
batteries. Colonel Webster, of General Grant's staff, with a 
quick eje and a skilful hand, has placed upon a ridge at the 
landing three thirt3'-twos and two eight-inch howitzers. Vol- 
unteers are called for to man them, and, to his gi'eat honor 
be it said, Dr. Comjn, surgeon of the First Missoui-i artillery, 
offers his services, and does most excellent duty, cutting out 
work for other surgeons. All along the crest, our reserve 
artillery, consisting of twenty-fours, tens, and twenties, sixty 
guns in all, is placed in position, and the landing is safe be- 
yond any peradventure. 

But our army is exhausted ; the line is reduced to one mile 
in length, in a curve at the landing ; it is a forced concentra- 
tion, but it really consohdates what remain. 

Prentiss and Wallace's divisions, owing to the loss of 
general officers, are subdivided, and assigned to other divi- 
sions, and all the commands are gi-eatly intermingled. -The 
rebels encircle our reduced and crowded line south and west of 
the ravine. They have placed then* artillery on the opposite 
crest, and still determine to cross that ra^Tue, seize the road, 
and cut us off from the landing. Vain boast ; if our troops 
have been worsted, Beauregard is not unscathed. His army 
is badly cut up, and the organizations are very much confused 
and mixed ; and yet he essays the herculean task. As far as 
we can determine the rebel order now, the corps organization 
is lost ; they are fighting by divisions and brigades. Chal- 
mers is on their right, with Breckinridge in rear ; and then 
ranging to the left are Withers, Cheatham, Eiiggles, Gibson, 
Stewart, Anderson, Stephens, and Pond, much reducetl, but 
still ready to fight. 

But this new attack is destined to be a failure. Oxu: artil- 
lery fire from the north crest is continuous and severe ; and 
wherever the smoke and flashes of their fnins disclose the 



GRANTS NFAV CA.MrAKiN. 01 

rebel positions, they uro swept by the <^\u\h of Clwiii und 
Sliirk fiDiu the boats. At length the rebel eolunin is hiuiirlied 
forth, consisting of Chalmers and Jackson's brigades; they 
rush down the ravino and up the northern slope ; but a few 
volleys eut them up, and drive them back like sheep. Three 
times they face the horrible fire, and are mowed down by an 
invisible enemy. The tide has turacd. It is now niglitfall, 
and Beauregard, professing himself satisfied with what he has 
done, and certainly checked in what he is now doing, ignorant 
t(Mi of Buell's arrival, determines to leave the finishing touch, 
the final overthrow of Grant's discomfited army, tmtil the 
morning. But at last our men arc in a secure position, while 
his are disheartened and demoralized by their last repulse. 
Grant, who had been all day upon the field, riding the whole 
length of the line, had visited Sherman about five o'clock, 
and, yet ignorant of Buell's arrival, had ordered him, with 
the assistance of Lewis Wallace, who was now crossing the 
Snake Creek bridge, to assume the oflensive in the morning. 

Of the movements of General AVallace, it must be said, that 
Grant had expected his appearance earlier upon the field. 
He had been particularly directed to move by the road 
nearest the river, and parallel to it, until he reached our right 
in rear of the camps of the Second (W. H. L. Wallace's) division, 
and there form in line at right angles with the river. He moved 
at twi'lve o'clock fi'om a point only four miles and a half dis- 
tant from that to which he was ordered ; but, fi'om some mis- 
conception or misunderstanding of the orders, he pursued a 
road almost at right angles to the one he had been directed 
to take, so that, after marching five miles, when he w as over- 
taken by Colonel Rowley, of General Grant's staff, he was no 
nearer the battle-field than when he started. He marched 
back again to within half a mile from the point from which 
he .started, where he struck the road to Pitt.slnirg Landing, 
which he should have taken at the first. Thus it happened 
that he did not reach the field until after dark. General 
Grant's opinion is, that, had he not been delayed, Pren- 
tiss mi^ht have been saved from capture, and, perhaps, 



92 GRANT AND HIS CAifPAIGNS. 

the battle won the first day. He had not for a momen 
lost heart, and he has always beheved that he could have suc- 
cessfully resisted the rebel army without further assistance. 

But assurance is now doubly sure ; Buell has arrived, and 
is in person on the field. In the fading hght, Nelson's 
division- of his army crosses above the landing, with the in- 
telligence that McCook and Crittenden are coming up the river 
from Savannah. On the right, behind Sherman, Lewis Wal- 
lace, leaving only two regiments at Crump's Landing, is cross- 
ing the creek with his fresh division by a good bridge, near 
the landing. The tables are completely turned. Our artil- 
lery and the gunboats, having forced Beauregard to fall back 
for safety, are keeping his wearied troops awake during the 
night. All night long steamers will ply between Savannah 
and Pittsburg, bringing up the divisions of McCook and Crit- 
tenden ; and with the first streak of dawn, we shall be ready 
for an overwhelming advance. Sherman has already ad- 
vanced to the right and front ; Lewis Wallace files in upon 
his right, and thus the worn-out troops sink into dreamless 
rest. The forest is fidl of dead and wounded, who cannot 
yet be cared for ; when, to add to the horrors, the woods are 
set on fire. Some of the wounded perish in the flames, while 
others are shrieking as the fiery death sweeps upon them. 
But, thanks be to God, a sudden April rain-storm quenches 
the fire, and tempers the fever of these helpless men, as rain 
only can. 

MONDAY MOENING. 

Commanders and men on both sides knew that the dawn 
must bring on the battle again, — a struggle the more bitter, 
because each was determined to assume the ofi'ensive, and the 



* General Grant, hearing that Nelson's division lunl arrived on the niglit of 
the 5th in the vicinity of Savannah, had sent him an order, as early as seven 
o'clock in the morning of the Gth, to move to a point on the river ojiposite Pitts- 
burg Landing; but, according Ui his otlicial rt'port. he did not start until about 
one o'clock, and did not reach Iub destination until lato in the afternoon. 



GRANT'S NEW CAMI'AIGN. 93 

shock wdiiM \)o lilvi' tli.il of iiirtli;iv:il kiii;^lit.s in mid listH. 
Tlie frosli troops wcro placed in lino as they came u])on tho 
field, far in advance, upon the ground aljandoned l)y IJeaure- 
gard after the failure of his last attack. Nelson was on the 
left ; then in order Crittenden, McCook, Hurlhut, McClernand, 
Sherman, and Lewis Wallace, — the new lino on the left nearly 
a mile in advance of our position on Sunday evening. 

Nelson's division contained the brigades of Ammcn, Bnico, 
and Hazen ; and Ammen's brigade, which had first arrived, 
had jt)ined in resisting the advance on Sunday evening, when 
they crossed. 

Crittenden had two brigades — Boyle's and W. S. Smith's, 
with Mendenhall's regular battery, and Bartlett's Ohio bat- 
tery. 

McCook had the three brigades of Rousseau, Gibson, and 
Kirk, with the batteries of Stone, Goodspeed, and Terrill. 
Rousseau's brigade was a large one. Colonel Gibson com- 
manded the brigade of R. W. Johnson, who was absent sick. 
Lewis "Wallace's division contained tho brigades of M. L. 
Smith, Thayer, and AVhittlesey. 

The battle began by a determined advance on our left and 
centre ; simultaneously with which, Beauregard, having formed 
a strong rear-guard and whipping in all stragglers, undertook 
a vigorous assaidt upon our left. He was still deceived into 
the ho})e that he might capture the landing. The assault 
upon Nelson was tremendous ; but while his troops were 
wavering, in spite of all his efforts, the regular battery of 
Ca])tain Mendenhall, detached by Buell from Crittenden's 
division, came into action, unlimbering at a jump, while the 
rebels were rushing forward, and, by rapid discharges of 
grape and canister, hurled them back. Again and again 
fresh troops were poured upon our left, but only to be driven 
back. At length Hazen's brigade charged, captured a rebel 
battery, and turned it upon the astonished enemy. 

Once more a rebel charge, and Hazen is driven back, when 
TeiTill's battery, of McCook's division, being in .suarch of its 
position, is posted by General Buell at the contested point 



94 GRANT AND HIS CA>rPAIGNS. 

He opens with shell from his ten-pounders, and grape and 
canister from his brass twelves, and the brunt of the battle 
bums low in Nelson's front. Buell has admirably posted his 
artillery, and the guns have been splendidly served. Nelson 
can move forward. On his right, Crittenden and McCook ad- 
vanced abreast, but to meet with a stubborn resistance. 
Throughout the war, as numerous examples cjould testify, the 
rebel generals always sought to pierce our Hne at its weakest 
point — at some joint in the armor. It was so now. In the 
slight interval between Crittenden and McCook they endeav- 
ored to force a passage. Rousseau, partially flanked, is driven 
back, but rallies upon the support of Kfrk's and Gibson's 
brigades. 

On the right, Sherman and Wallace have advanced with 
ardor to the same ridge occupied by the former on Sunday 
morning. But here again furious battle was to be joined, for 
the rebels, when satisfied that they could effect nothing on the 
left, had countermarched their troops to try the right once 
more, and the httle log chiu'ch of Sliiloh was again to witness 
a desj)erate struggle. By well-concerted movements, our 
troops are kept well abreast throughout the whole line, and 
when at length a concerted advance was made, in spite of the 
great efforts of the enemy, it was successful. By four o'clock 
the rebel commander had seen the uselessness of fm-ther 
effort ; by half-past five he was in fuU retreat. 

He had failed in all his projects, and was driven finally back, 
to return no more, with an acknowledged loss of nearly eleven 
thousand men ; and yet he had the hardiliood to telegraph to 
the rebel secretary of war that night, that he had " gained a 
gi-eat and glorious victory." * He quahfied this, however, by 
adding, with singular inconsistency : "Buell re-enforced Grant, 

* CouiNTii, Tuesday, April S, 1S62. 
To TiiK Skckktaky of Wai!, Riclimond : 

Wi! have gaiiu-il a groat aad glorious victory. Eight to ton thousand prison- 
ers, and thirty-six picci-s of cannon. Buoll re-enforced Grant, and we retired to 
oar intrcnchments at Corinth, which we can hold. Loss heavy on both sides. 

BEAUIIEG.UID. 



GRANTS NEW CAMPAIGN. Of) 

and wc rotiroil to ouv iiiticiichmcnts at Corintli, which wr t-un 
hold." Tlu' truth is, that having,' utterly failed, Beauregard 
burned his eainp and withdrew his troojis, defended by Breck- 
inridge, witli a powerfid rear-guard, and trembling in fear of 
a pursuit, which would have scattered him like spray.* Ho 
made all haste to Corinth, began to dig .with an energy in- 
cited by fear, w hilo Grant's forces were " too much fatigued 
from two days' hard fighting, and exposure to the open air, in 
a drenching rain, during the intervening night, to pui'suo im- 
mediately." 

• The following correspondence is significant : 

IIeaDQCARTERS DEPAnTMENT OF M ISSI.-- I III, 

MoNTEKEV, -April 8, 1S62. 

Sir — At tho close of the conflict yt-storday, my forces being exhausted by 
tho extniordinary length of the time during which they were ingaged with 
yours on that and the preceding day, and it being apparent that you had re- 
ceived, and were still receiving, re-enforcements, I felt it my duty to withdraw 
my troops from the immediate scene of the conflict. Under these circum- 
stances, in accordance with the usages of war, I shall transnut this under a flag 
of truce, to ask penuission to send a mounted party to the battle-field of Shiloh, 
for the jiurpose of giving decent interment to my dead. Certain gentlemen 
wishing to avail themselvis of this opporttmity to remove the remains of their 
sons and friends, I must request for them the privilege of accompanying the 
burial party ; and in this connection, I de^'m it proper to say, I am asking 
what I have extended to your own countrymen umder similar circumstances. 
Respectfully, general, your obedient servant, 

P. G. T. BeauiiegaiU), General commanding. 
To Major-General U. S. Grant, 

Couiuiamling U. S. Forces, I'iltsburg Landing. 

IIeaDQCARTERS .AuMV in the FlEiD, 

I'lTTSBCRo, .Ajiril 9, ISCl'. 
Qener.\l p. Q. T. Beaxjreoard, Commanding Confederate Army on Missis- 
sippi. Muiiterty, Tenn. : 
Your disi)atch of yesterday is just received. Owing to tho warmth of the 
weather. I deemed it advisable to have all the dead of both j arties buried im- 
mediately. Heavy details were made for tliis purpose, and it is now accom. 
plishe<l. There cannot, therefore, be any necessity of admitting within our 
lines the parti»-a you desired to send on the gnmnd asked. I shall always be 
glad to ext<nd any courtesy consistent with duty, and especially so when dic- 
tated by humanity. I am, general, resptx-t fully, your olM>di«^nt ser\-ant, 

U. 8. Gr.\nt, Major-Ueneral commanding. 



9G GRANT AND HIS CA^VIPAIGNS. 

Sherman went out, however, on the morning of the 8th, 
with two brigades, and some cavaby, to reconnoitre the re- 
treat, and foimd abandoned camps and hospital flags, with 
signs of a disorderly and precipitate departure. 

Our own losses were great, amounting in all to not less 
than fifteen thousand. 

Beauregard's were far greater : he confesses to a loss of 
one thousand seven hundred and twenty-eight killed, eight 
thousand and twelve wounded, nine hundi'ed and fifty-five 
missing— total, ten thousand six hundred and ninety-nine ; 
and as his army went into action forty-five thousand strong, 
and he could not on Monday, by his own account, bring 
twenty thousand into action, there must have been fi-om 
fifteen to eighteen thousand stragglers. 

The news flew over the country. Telegraphed to "Washing- 
ton, it was read by Mr. Speaker Colfax to the House. The 
people, careless of military criticism, were satisfied with the 
victory, and there was general rejoicing. General HaUeck, in 
orders, thanked Generals Grant and Buell, " and the officers 
and men of their respective commands, for the bravery and 
endurance with which they sustained the general attack of 
the enemy on the 6th, and for the heroic manner in which, 
on the 7tli, they defeated and routed the entire rebel 
army." 

General Halleck then, retaining Grant and Buell in com- 
numd of their respective armies, took command of the whole 
in person, and advanced upon Corinth, that important point 
for whose security Beauregard had fought and lost the battle 
of Pittsburg Landing. 

But our task would be incomplete, without a brief considera- 
tion of the battle as subjected to the canons and rules of mili- 
tary criticism. 

The great features of the action are clear and simple ; but 
the details, nc^twithstanding, or rather in part by reason of, 
llic crowd of reports, Union and Confederate, are extremely 
confused. At the outset, our troops were shamefully sur- 
prised and easily overpowered ; there was a want of proper 



UlLV^'TS NEW CAMl'.UUN. 97 

adjustinont in our advuiu-ed lines ; tlio panics were disf^aco- 
fui, and swelled "that sickeniuj^ erowd i)f laggards and fugi- 
tives which thronged the landing." 

ITalleek had ordered in general terms tliat the ]»osition 
shoidd be fortiiied ; but C. F. Smith opposed it, and liis views 
were con-oborated by Grant and all the division commanders, 
on the ground that it -would tend to injure the morale of our 
army, and that wc could stand any rebel attack. 

For want of this precaution we were suqiriscd at the out- 
set, driven back fi-om every point, in three grand movements 
of the enemy on the first day — viz., at the early morning, at 
half-past ten, and at foui'. But there the disasters were at an 
end. 

It is useless to specidato upon what would iiavr iiappened 
had Buell not come up, or to accumulate ifs, wliich always set 
the fancy into most fantastic working. There has been much 
controversy and heart -Inirning between commanders and par- 
tisans of the companion Armies of the Tennessee and the Ohio 
— criminatiotis and recriminations, wliich are unwise and un- 
generous. 

Grant never despaii'ed of the issue. At the first somid of 
the battle he had left his headquarters at Savannah, in a 
steamer, and by eight o'clock he was upon the gi-oimd. He 
immediately dispatched an order to Lewds Wallace to hasten 
to the field. 

Feeling the fierceness of the onslaught, Grant rode along 
the lines all day long, recklessly exposing himself, while at- 
tempting to stay the torrent. At ten he visited Sherman. 
Again, at five, he saw him, and declaring with perfect coolness 
that the fury of the rebel attack was expended, he ordered 
that at the dawn, with Wallace's division to aid, avc should 
assume the ofiensive. It was just about sunset that BueU, a 
portion of whose army was now on the opposite bank, rodo 
up in person, and, in the words of Sherman, " his arrival made 
that certain which was before uncertain." 

Whatever might havr ha]>j)ened had Buell not come up, 



98 fJRANT AND HIS CA3IPAIQNS. 

one tiling is cei'tain, his arrival did put a new face upon the 
affair. Whatever we may have been able to effect without him, 
the battle of Monday as fought, and the \'ictor3^ of Monday as 
gained, Avere due to the fresh troops which he brought with him. 

Buell's arrival, then, was most timely ; his re-enforcements 
gave us largely preponderating numbers ; his troops were 
handled with great coolne.ss, judgment, and skill. He and 
his army deserve the greatest praise, which every mihtary 
man is ready to accord ; but let us not, in the ghtter and 
glory of Monday, be so dazzled as not to estimate at its full 
value the severe fighting, the heroic endurance, and the un- 
shaken purpose which were displayed in the dark hours of 
Simday. Let us not forget that Grant had organized his 
army with great quickness ; had brought them fearlessly to 
the front, looking for the enemy, determined to fight him 
wherever he could find him, and with troops, most of whom 
had not only never s6en a battle, but hardly been di-illed at 
the simplest company manoeuvres, had fought the best mate- 
rial in the Confederacy for a whole day. Nay, more than this ; 
undismayed by ill fortune, and unappalled by the cowardly 
conduct of thousands of stragglers, he had formed his line at 
night, under cover of a line of batteries, the fire of which 
caused the rebel attack to melt away ; he had ordered Sher- 
man to assume the offensive in the ir.orning, with the aid of 
Lewis Wallace's division of his own army ; he had confidently 
anticipated Buell's arrival as one of the elements of the A-ic- 
tory ; and, by all these in combination, the greatest victory 
until then ever achieved on the American continent had 
been won. 

To those who still think that he risked too much by placing 
his army on the west bank, and thus came very near total 
defeat, we can only quote the words of General Sherman's 
letter : " If there were any eiTor in putting that army on the 
west side of the Tennessee, exposed to the superior force of 
the enemy, also assembling at Corinth, the mistake was not 
General Grant's ; but there was no mistake. It was riccessai-y 
that a combat, fierce and bitter, to test the manhood of two armies, 



GRANTS NEW CAMPAION. tjij 

{ilioidd conic (iff : (ind tliitl ica.s (us ijihhI a place as any. Il ivas 
not then a question of military skill and strategy, hut of courage 
and pluck : and I am convinced, that every life lost that day to us 
was necessary ; for otherwise, at Corinth, at Memphis, at Vicks- 
burg, we would have found harder resistance, had toe not shoitm 
our enemies that, rude and untutored as wc then icerc, ice could 
fght as mil as th< y.'' 

Of the subordinates on tliiit field, inanj deserve praise ; but 
oi tlu'iii all, Slurinan claims tlu' greatest. He then gave 
splendiil earnest of his future achievements. Although severt^ly 
wounded in the hand on the first day, his place was never 
vacant. Again he was wounded. He had thi-ce horses shot Tin- 
der him ; but he was undaunted and undismayed to the last. 

Of Beauregard, the rebel commander, it is also our duty to 
speak. His place as a military man has not been understood. 
For some personal reasons, he afterwards fell into disfavor 
with Jetferson Da^'is, which impaired his services as a soldier ; 
and his silly and wicked letters have caused him to be hated 
and despised by our own peo])le. But wo do not except Lee, 
when we express the oj^inion, that he luul no ecpial among the 
Confederate generals. 

Of strong, clear mind ; thoroughly instructed in the mihtary 
art ; at once enthusiastic and tenacious of purpose ; brave and 
self-reliant, — ho had the power to bring all he was, and all 
that he knew, into practical use. His plans in this battle 
were excellent ; his generalship, admii-able ; his battle-tactics, 
sagacious and rapid ; and had it not been for the skill of our 
chief commander, the determined valor of some of our troops, 
the efifective management of the artilleiy, the accurate fire of 
the gunboats, and the timely arrival and admirable co-opera- 
tion of Buell, he might longer have contested the field, and 
even defeated oiir army entirely. 

Note. — Tln' Confederate pcnoml has called this the battle of Snn/)n. I 
have preferred the name of PiTTsntit*; Landixo, and hoiK* we shall n-tain 
t'lat name. The battle was foupht by Beaiirepanl to take the landing, and by 
Grant to hold it. Shilob church was but one among the important positions 
on the field. 



100 GRANT A^'D HIS CAMPAIGNS. 



CHAPTEE X. 

THE SIEGE OF CORINTH. 

" Captiva Corlnthns. 

8i foret in tcrris rideret Dcmocritus." 

noBACE, Epls. I., Book iL 

CORIKTn DESCRIBED.— SbERMAN's RECONKOISSANCE.— ThE ARRIVAL OF IIaLLECK.— 

Pope's army comes cp.— Beauregard's order.— llis force- Ours.- Popk 
TAKES Farmington.— The battle of Farmington.— Elliot's raid.— Corinth 
EVACUATED.— Tub occupation and pursuit.— Co-OPERATrxo movements.— 
Mitcuel's march.— The navy.— Fight at Memphis.- New efforts of thk 

ENEHY. 

Corinth was the objective point, at which Beaui-egard was 
to make his stand, and which Halleck was to capture at any 
cost. Specifically, the immediate matter in hand for the 
Union general was to cut the enemy's communication from 
east to west, on the new Ime which he had estabhshod, and 
the strength of which he vaunted ; and thus to force him back 
upon the southern route from Vicksburg to Montgomery. In 
executing this, the commander of the land forces was to move 
pari passu with the naval armament, which was endeavoring 
to clear the .Mississippi ; and finally, he was either to beat 
Beauregard, or, if that wily commander would not stay to be 
beaten, he was, at the least, to compel him to abandon 
Corinth in a disastrous retreat. 

Only a small village, not upon common maps, Corinth owes 
its military importance to the fact that it is at the intersection 
of two gi-oat arterial railroads— the " Mobile and Ohio" and 
the " Memphis and Charleston." The length and value of 
tlicse routes are indicati'd by tlu>ir names. Corinth is forty 
miles east of the Grand Jimction, Avhich it covered from Mai- 




.^CALCOF MILCi^ 



(TT ^TT■'^cw^ • 



THE SIKCiE OF COKI.NTII 



1"! 



102 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

leek's army, and nineteen from Pittsburg Landing, where the 
last great battle was fought. It is built upon a low and 
clayey plain, but has for natm-al defences ridges at some dis- 
tance outside. The country be3-ond, to the banks of the Ten- 
nessee, is very much broken by ridges, valley streams^ and 
marshes. The approach was rendered more difficult fi-om the 
fact that, in his retreat from Pittsburg, the bridges over the 
creeks had been destroyed by Beauregard, and the roads 
heavily obstinicted by timber. Farmington, on the east, and 
College Hill, on the north, are the highest points in the 
immediate vicinity of Coriuth, and were occupied by the 
enemy as the signal-outposts of his vast intrenchments, en- 
circling the town. 

The a,dvance of the Union army upon Coiinth was deter- 
mined upon by General Halleck, as soon as the battle of Pitts- 
burg Landing had been fought. Had Beauregard won that 
battle, the advance would have been impossible : as Grant 
won it, it was the next obvious move upon the chess-board. 

On the 8th of April, as we have seen, Sherman had recon- 
noitred the retreat of the enemy, with two brigades and a 
cavalry force, and had found the roads very bad. But the 
badness of the roads was compensated for by the signs of haste 
in the enemy's retreat. They were strewed witli the accoutre- 
ments, wagons, ambulances, and limber-boxes of the retiring 
rebels ; who had also, as an expedient to save time, left here 
and there a hospital Hag flying. Sherman returned that same 
night to Pittsburg, to report. 

On the 9th of April, Halleck left St. Louis for the scene of 
action. But before his arrival Grant had not been idle. He 
had sent an expedition under Sherman up the Tennessee, 
accompanied by the gunboats, as far as Eastport, to destroy 
the railroad-bridge over Big Bear Creek, east of luka. This 
was efiectually done, and thus Corinth was cut oft" by that 
route fi'om Richmond. 

On the 22d of April, General John Pope came up to the 
liiiiding, with his army, from New Madrid, twenty-live thou- 
sand strong. On the ;50th, General Wallace was sent through 



THE SIEGE OF CORINTH. 103 

Purdy to tlu' tr:ic-k four miles beyond, to destroy tlic bridge 
across the Mobile and Ohio railroad ; tlius cutting' olT supiilios 
and re-enforcemonts that mi.i^dit come from Jackson, Tenucs- 
800. This also was otroctually done. 

These precautions having been taken, the " Grand Army of 
the Tonnossoo" — for such was now its style and title — was 
roadv to move, which it did with the gi-oatcst caution. On 
the 1st of May, Monterey, a town aliout halS-way from the 
landing to Corinth, was occupied ; and on the 2d, Beauregard, 
being now assured of our puii)ose, prepared to receive Hal- 
leck's attack. "VMiatever his hopes may have been, his words 
were defiant. In grandiloquent orders, to the invincible 
" soldiers of Shiloh and Elkhorn,"*— in both which battles the 
Confederates had been defeated, — he assured them of victory, 
and invoked an echo from " the historic fields of Yorktown," 
which, it so happened, were hastily evacuated the very day on 
which his order was written. He is unfortvmate with a pen, 
but ill this respect docs not diflfer from many other generals 
on both sides, who do violence to the adage, that " the pen is 
mightier than the sword." 

Beauregard's army, concentrated at Corinth, was composed 

* IlKAnQUARTERS OF THK FoRCES AT CoRINTH, Miss., Mnv 8, 1862. 

SoLDlEJns OF SiilLon aijd Ei.khorx ! — We are about to meet once more, in 
thf shock of battle, the invaders of our soil, the dcspoilors of our homes, the 
disturbi-rs of our family tics, face to face, hand to hand. Wo are to decide 
whether we are to be freemen, or vile slaves of those who arc only free in name, 
an 1 who but yesterday were vanquished, althouixh in larfrely superior num- 
bers, in their own encampments, on the ever memorable field i>f Shiloh. I>et 
the impending battle dcciil? our fate, and add a more illustrious pag-e to the 
history of our revolution — one to which our children will iK)int with noble 
pride, saying — " Our fathers were at the battle of Corinth." I congratulate 
you on your timely junction. With our mingled banners, for the first time 
during the war, we shall meet our foe in strength tlmt .'should give us victory. 
Soldiers, can the result b«> doubtful? Shall we not drive back in Tennessee 
the presumptuous mercenaries collected for our subjugation ? One more manly 
effort, and trusting in (ickI and the justness of our cause, we shall recover 
more than we lately lost. Ix-t the sound of our victoriQus guns be re-echoed by 
those of the Army of Virginia, on the historic battle-fieM of Yorktown. 

P. G. T. Be.\ukeo.\RD, General commandiiig. 



104 GRANT A>'D HIS CA>rPAIGNS. 

of several elements : the " soldiers of Shiloh," the army which 
had fought at Pittsburg Landing ; those of " Elkliorn," the 
combined army of Van Dorn and Price, from Ai'kansas and 
Missom-i ; and the forces imder General Lovell, which had 
evacuated New Orleans when, on the 28th of A^^ril, our gun- 
boats appeared before it. In addition to these, a large militia 
force had been hastily sent forward from Alabama, Missis- 
sippi, and Louisiana. Bragg, as second in rank, had com- 
mand of the " Aimy of the Mississippi." The old organization 
of the coq^s— under Hardee, Bragg, Breckinridge, and Polk 
— was retained. Breckinridge commanded the reserve, and 
Van Dorn the re-enforcements. The whole force was about 
sixty-fire thousand men, most of them the best troops in the 
Confederacy ; and they were expected to accomphsh great 
things imder Beauregard at Corinth. 

To drive this well-appointed and large army from its 
stronghold, and even, perhaps, to capture it. General Halleck 
moved with about ninety thousand men, comprising three 
armies — the Ai-my of the Tennessee, originally Grant's, now 
confided to General George H. Thomas, and containing the 
di\-isions of Hurlbut, Sherman, Smith, and Davies ; the Army 
of the Ohio, commanded by Don Carlos Buell, and composed 
of the di^-isions of McCook, T. J. Wood, Nelson, and Crit- 
tenden ; the Ai'my of the Mississippi, General John Pope, 
originally contaiuiiig three divisions, and re-enforced by one 
division fi-om General Curtis. Thomas formed the right 
wing, Buell the centre, and Pope the left. Grant, being in 
orders second in command, retained the command of the dis- 
trict of West Tennessee, and had a general supervision of the 
right wing, under Thomas, and the reserves of McClernand 
and Wallace's di^•isions, commanded by McClernand. This 
general command of Grant also extended to the compiling of 
reports, ordering the discharge of soldiers on surgeon's cer- 
tificate of disabihty, and similar duties. 

On the 3d of May, our advance had reached a point 
eight miles from Corinth, and on the same day Pope sent 
Paine's division to reconnoitre, and, if possible, occupy 



THK SIF.dE OF rOIUNTII. lOf) 

Farminj^ton, an important outpost of Corinth, alroa<ly nicn- 
tionetl. 

The resistance maili> by the Confederate garrison of Farm- 
ington, four tliousand five hundred strong, under General 
Marniaduk(\ was not by any means a vigorous one. Indeed 
he retired ra]ndly to Corinth, leaving his camps with all its 
supplit's, and only tliirty dead. At the time it seemed as 
though his orders had been to withdraAV, Init the subsequent 
efl'orts of the rebels to recover Farmington prove that this could 
not have been so. An artillery rcconnoissance, well supported 
by cavalry, as far as Glendale, on the Memphis and Charleston 
Railroad, was successful in destroying the h-ack and breaking 
up two important trestle-bridges. Halleck's scheme was work- 
ing well ; we were gradually approaching in front, and at the 
same time cutting and recutting the communications on both 
flanks. Meanwhile Beauregard, while apparently plying tooth 
and nail to render Corinth impregnable, was already medi- 
tating an evacuation and retreat. 

"We have said the advance was made with gi-eat caution ; 
the movements of the several armies were in a kind of eche- 
lon, and at every step strong intrenchments were the order of 
the day. If Beauregard was fortified at Corinth, Halleck 
was equally so in almost every encampment. It is easy now 
to say, and to say truly, that the caution was too great and the 
approaches too slow, but that was our day of experiments. 

The rebel defences at Corinth were very strong. In a 
general way, they may be described as a continued line of in- 
trenchments, occupying the brow of the first ridge outside of 
the town of which we have spoken. On the east there was a 
ravine, and Philip's Creek in front ; on the north was a heavy 
abatis, and a cleared space in front. The exterior lines were 
fifteen miles long — a miniature Torres Yedras— and at every 
road-crossing there were either strong redoubts, or batteries 
with massive cpaulments. Here, as always in engineer work, 
Beaur(\<;ard had acquitted himself well, not without pride 
that his work was now to test the skill of his fellow West 
Pointer and engineer, Halleck. 



106 GRANT AND fflS CAMPAIGNS. 

The experience of the last battle had taught our generals 
the value of intrenchments, by the dangers which their absence 
incuiTed, and now all our approaches were strengthened by 
the spade, or such other impromptu implement as often takes 
its place. A crib of fence-rails, hastily made, was the recep- 
tacle into which the earth was thrown : the batteries were 
made heavier than the hnes, and the log- houses in the vicinity 
formed rude but strong platforms for the gims. 

The right wing of Thomas and McClernand in reserve, aU 
under Grant's general supervision, moved in three columns ; 
the centre, under BueU, in two, while Pope occupied Farming- 
ton with one column from the north and one from the east. 



THE BATTLE OF FAEMINGTON. 

On the Otli of May, the battle of Farmington was fought. 
The rebel general was not content to let General Pope retain 
the position so easily gained, and hold the front of that town 
"wdtli a single brigade, separated from it by a small stream. 
Launching with great rapidity and secrecy a force of twenty 
thousand men, the enemy fell upon this advanced brigade of 
Pope's army, which, though separated fi-om the rest, had 
been advantageously posted, under the super^-ision of Gener- 
als Paine and Palmer. It resisted the attack for several hours, 
but at length feU back, because it was beheved that General 
Halleck did not desire, by supporting it, to bring on a general 
engagement. The front attack of the enemy was conducted 
by Van Dorn, while Price had been ordered early in the day 
to make a detour around oui' extreme left, and get into the 
rear of these isolated troops. Either he was too late, or Van 
Dorn too early. The combination was a failure ; they did 
not capture any portion of Pope's army, although tho}^ occu- 
pied Farmington, and found a small quantity of baggage 
th(?re. By a little foresight and valor, they need never have 
lost it ; with a stronger advanced force. Pope might have 
held it against these last attacks. 

We need not stop t(^ detail the extremely slow apjiroaches 



TIIK SlMiiE OF COmNTn. 107 

to Corintli. The ilij^'j^'ing wiis cuutinual. A sli^lit advance of 
four miles brouj^'lit a new parallel. In later days, when tlank- 
ing movements were better understood — the days of Ch;itta- 
noo^a, an4 of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania — the evacua- 
tion of Corinth would hav(> been f^reatly ex])edit(>d. Without 
lU'signiug to be critical, we can only now bi'lieve that, in the 
process of education wjiiili our ^(Uicrals were receivinfj, the 
iio-intrcuc/iiiioils at Pittsburj; led to the excess at Corinth : safe 
practice certainly, but rather expensive, and utterly unneces- 
sary. The happy medium was fully developed in our later 
canipai}.,nis ; but they had all this experience to act U])on. 

On the 17th, the army, eager for action, was enlivened by 
a gallant battle on a small scale — that projected by Sherman 
for the capture of Russel's house. This was an important 
eminence, commanding the junction of the roads three hun- 
dred yards beyond, and only a mile and a quarter from the 
enemy's outer intrenchments. General Hurlbut sent two re- 
gimi'uts and a battery on the road leading from his front to 
Kussel's house. The attacking force consisted of General 
Denver, with two regiments and a battery, moving by the 
right, and General M. L. Smith in front. The attack was 
succcssfid : the position, found to be of great natural strength, 
was at once fortitied and occupied by a large force. 

At length, on the 21st of May, we were fairly in line, three 
miles from Corinth, with detached works in our fit-out corre- 
sponding with the general direction of those of the enemy. 
A desperate stniggle was at last to be expected, when the 
sjiade should give way to the bayonet. Would the enemy 
stand up for the fight? No one doubted that he would. 
Corinth would fall, but not before, at least, one desperate 
sti-uggle had been made in its defence. Such was the 
general belief. 

eluot's raid. * 

The position of Beauregard was now becoming critical : his 
railroad communications were cut at Purdy and Glendale ; the 



108 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

bridges had been destroyed beyond luka. To isolate bim 
completely, making either a vigorous attack or an evacuation 
the only alternatives, Halleck now ordered his southern com- 
munications to be inten-upted. This was done 'by Colonel 
Elliot, of the Second Michigan cavalry (a captain in the 
United States cavalry), who, with his regiment and the 
Second Iowa cavahy, marched on the night of the 27th. His 
route was from Farmington, across the raih'oad east of luka ; 
then along the Tuscumbia road to Cartersville and Boones- 
ville, twenty-five miles distant. The expedition was weU con- 
ducted, and entirely successful : the surprise of the people 
along the route was very great ; and there was no Httle con- 
sternation in the army of Beauregard. EUiot destroyed at 
Boonesville five cars loaded with arms, five containing loose 
ammunition, six filled vi-itli officers' baggage, and five with 
subsistence stores. He paroled the prisoners and the sick 
whom he found in his route, burnt trains and depots, and de- 
stroyed many locomotives. His work was done in tlie most 
admu'able manner, and he set out upon his perilous return. 
He had been directed, in the event of finding his pathway 
blocked in returning, to strike oil", and join General Mitohel's 
column at the east. But, by taking the Tuscumbia road, he 
eluded pursuit, and joined General Pope's army on the 31st. 
For this service he was afterwards made, as he fully deserved 
to be, a brigadier-general of volunteers. 



THE EVACUATION OF CORINTH. 

And now, by slow movements, our combined forces have 
closely embraced the Confederate lines. On the 28th, Halleck 
advances three strong reconnoitring columns, one from each 
army : on the 28th, also, Sherman attacks a strong position in 
hi» front, commanded by a house which had been arranged 
for defence, like a blockhouse, and takes it, establishing his 
lines within a thousand yards of the enemy : on the 30th, 
Pope's batteries are opened. But they will not be needed. 



Till': fcillCdK OF CORINTH. 109 

Thf rebels arc evacuating Corinth. Tho fierce display is but 
n mask. They had bet^nin their prc]iarati()ns for retreat on 
the "Jtlth. The niusk«'try ceases on Friday. Soon clouds of 
smoke and sheets of flame announce that Beauregard is tiring 
tlie town ; and as ho moves out, filhng tho southern and 
western roads, our forces move in. 

He has destroyed all that ho can, and is ofl'. The " sol- 
diers of Shiloh and Elkhorn" may now put " Corinth" on their 
colors ! 

With an immense army, after loud boasts and protestations, 
in a position and with works of amazing strength, why has he 
lied without a blow ? 

His own statements are such as woidd indeed make De- 
mocritus laugh, if he still lived. In his report, written at Tu- 
pelo, on the 13th of June, ho declares that he had " accom- 
plished his puqioscs and ends." He denies Elliot's capture 
of ears, etc., and charges him with inhumanities in burning 
his sick st)ldiers, — criminations ably and boldly answered in a 
letter by Gordon Granger, to which Beauregard has not 
vouchsafed a reply. He says he twice offered battle, which 
we declined ; and the appearance he would put upon matters 
is, simply, that the occupation of Corinth was merely a tempo- 
rary shift, and that it was to be abandoned when weightier 
matters, then in train, should have made sufficient progress. 
How does this agree with his former declarations, that Corinth 
was "the strategic point of that campaign," and that "he 
could hold it?" The facts in the case are few and simple. 
His strategy- was entu-ely at fault. He must either drive back 
Halleck's army, or abandon Corinth ; he could not stay there. 
\\'hen he fought the battle at the landing, he expected to 
overpower Grant. That was his first failure. 

He considered the Mississippi secure, both above and be- 
low ; whereas New Orleans and Island No. 10 fell, Vicksburg 
w as not yet strong, and Memphis was shaking to its centre. 
Farragut had attacked Forts St. Phihp and Jackson on tlu^ LSth 
of April ; had destroyed the rebel fleet of thirteen gunboats 
and three rams ; and had so isolated the forts that they sur- 



110 ' GRANT AXD HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

rendered on the 28th. On the same day Lovell retired, and 
New Orleans was ours. By its capture, the heaviest blow of 
the war, up to that time, had fallen upon them. Unprepared 
for such crushing disasters, the entire people of rebeldom be- 
gan to exliil)it signs of distrust, and even the "soldiers of 
Shiloh and Elkhoru" were in no condition to bear our attack. 
Under the influence of these moral and strategical causes, 
like the massive portal of that Corinth of which Byron de- 
scribes the fall, 

"It bends — it falls — and all is o'er; 
Lost Corinth may resist no more." 

Virginia was in a blaze of lurid tires, with the advance of 
McClellan. Torktown was evacuated on the 3d and 4th of 
May ; Norfolk on the 10th. Pensacola and Natchez came into 
Federal possession on the 12th. 

The second great rebel line in the West had dissolved like 
the fabric of a dream, and the enemy must fall back on the 
third and last — that upon which the strategic points were 
Vicksburg, Jackson, Meridian, and Selma. 

Unfortunately, notwithstanding the clear intelligence and 
dashing valor of General O. M. Mitchel, they were still to 
hold Chattanooga, which Avas long to be to them a tower of 
strength, and to us a cause of great trouble, carnage, and de- 
lay. But, to an miprejudiced eye, it was evident that the de- 
cree had gone forth. Line after line had been cut. Boasting 
of "vdctory, they had retreated from every field ; but ever hope- 
ful, ever deluded by siren voices, the rebels prolonged the 
war, when, by a simple application of military principles, it 
became daily more manifest that success was impossible. 

The occupation of Corinth by our forces was both pictur- 
esque and inspiring. From the highest points of the rebel 
intrenchments it was a magnificent sight, on that brilliant 
May morning. The eye ranged over a horizon five miles dis- 
tant, and the intervening space was glistening with bayonets ; 
ilutteriiig with banners, battle-torn, and inscribed with the ru- 
bricated glories of former fields ; and busy with martial life. 



THE SlE(iE OF CORINTn. HI 

Tlioy cntorod Coriiitli in liiuinpli iiinl joy ; but, except the 
f^iirrisoii li;is(ily ilcsi^natod, not to stay there. 



THE ADVANCE. 

The ])urKuit was inimediiitely ho^in. On th«! .'30th, at seven 
in the niorniii;^', l\)pe's advance ib'ove tlie small n^ar-^uard of 
rel^i'l cavaliv throui^h the town, only stopped for a brief time 
1)V till' Imniiii,^ of a hridt^'e. Gordon Gran;.,'er, brave and ar- 
dent, sft out witii a brii^'ade and a battery on tin; Booneville 
road, from Farmington, at noon, and pushed the tlyinj^ foe 
tiiroui^li liooneville. The next day he had crossed Twenty- 
mile Greek, the main army following close at his heels. On 
the 10th, our advance was at Baldwin and Gunto^^^l, still on 
the railroad ; and at the latter point the pursuit ended. Beau- 
regard had taken a strong position at Tupelo, a few miles be- 
low, where the railroad is crossed by Old-town Creek, an 
alHueut of the Tombigbee, and Halleck bethought himself of 
the safety of his communications and the strengthening of his 
base. And thus the brief campaign of Corinth was brought 
to an end. 

Although General Grant was not in command, as second in 
rank he was exceediugl}- active and eager, always on the field, 
constantly making valuable suggestions, and lending import- 
ant aid in achieving the final residt. His position was a sin- 
gular, and in some respects a painful one ; but he was assm-ed 
by Halleck that no censure was intended, but that his position 
was that due to his rank. We have no comments to make. 

We have dwelt upon the siege and capture of Corinth as a 
necessary link in the story of Grant's Hfe. It was in pursu- 
ance of the plan formed before the battle of Pittsburg Land- 
ing was fought. It opened the way to the next and immortal 
campaign of Yicksburg, of which he was the projector, and in 
which he was to bo the chief actor. To this, after a few de- 
tails of organization and preparation, we shall come. 

The Tnion army returned to Corinth, and remained there 
in busy labors, making ready for a new movement, until the 



112 GRANT AND UIS CA:yPAIGNS. 

10th of June. The Tennessee Kiver was ah'eady low, and the 
summer heats would make it lower ; so, m order to secure the 
communications when the river should fail, the raih-oad was 
put in good order to Columbus. Buell, vrith. the Ai'my of the 
Ohio, was detached, and sent towards Chattanooga, while 
Grant's army occupied the new strategic Une of railroad 
which the rebels had lost, from Memphis to luka, and which 
they were never to regain. 

CO-OPEIIA.TING MOVEMENTS. 

Pending the operations which we have been describing, two 
grand co-operating movements were in progress, which mate- 
rially aided the advance on Corinth, and had such important 
direct results that we must briefly allude to them. Indeed, so 
thoroughly are the parts of the great war in relation with 
each other, that no campaign can be properly described with- 
out a reference to the co-ordinate movements. 

The first was General Mitchel's rapid march and captures 
in Northern Alabama ; and the second, the successful advance 
of our naval armament on the Mississippi. Let us take them 
in order. 

mitchel's MARCH. 

General Ormsby McKnight Mitchel, a gi-aduate of West 
Point, the founder of the astronomical observatory at Cincin- 
nati, and the director of that at Albany, had brought to the 
ser\nce of the country, energy, inteUigence, patriotism, and a 
genius for war. His career in this war was brief but brilliant, 
and his exploits at the Southwest excited the admu-ation of 
the whole country. 

Originally commanding a division in Buell's army, ho had 
been detached to act, to some degree, independently, when 
that army marched to jom Grant at Pittsburg. Early in 
March he was at Murfreesboro'. On the Gth of April he 
marched to Shelbyville ; on the 10th he was at Fayetteville, 
and on the 11th he reached Huntsville, in Alabama. There, 



THE SIEUE OF CORINTH. 113 

seizing tlio rolliug-stock, he immciliately sent ont two ruihvay 
expeditions, vnst anil west, to Decatur and Str.vonson, con- 
ducting the hitter in person. He thus threw the wliolc of tho 
adjacent country into a panic. Taking advantage of this, he 
marched towards Chattanooga, whicli he saw at once to bo a 
most important strategic point. He called for re-enforce- 
ments, but they could not be had ; and he was fain, therefore, 
to di'aw back, not having acconii)lislied all he desired, but 
Avriting, however, to the Secretary of AA'ar, under date of May 
1 : '* The campaign is ended, and I now occupy Huntsville in 
perfect secmity ; while all of Alabama, north of the Tennessee 
Eiver, floats no flag but that of the Union." In tliat day of 
experiments and caution, Mitchers fault was seeing too far 
and daring too much. 

THE NAVY ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 

Let us now look at the state of affairs on the Mississippi. 
On the l'2th of April, Flag-Officer Foote, with his fleet of gun- 
boats and mortar-boats, had steamed down the river from 
New ^[adrid on a new voyage of discovery, with the divisJbns 
of Stanley, Hamilton, and Palmer on transports. The first 
fortified point Avliere they expected a check was Fort Pillow, 
a strong work on the Tennessee shore, about forty miles above 
Memphis, which was afterwards to have such atrocious noto- 
riety for the massacre of our prisoners by Forrest. It stands 
upon the first Chickasaw Bluff, near Islands Nos. 33 and 34, 
and sixty-five miles above Memphis. As our fleet ap- 
j)roached, the rebel gunboats and rams kept retreating doA^Ti 
at a respectful distance, turning back occasionally to try our 
strength. But when Pope's army was withdraA\'n to join the 
advance on Corinth, the expedition of Foote came to an end, 
or ratlier awaited the fall of Corinth. The effect of that fall 
was Hkc magic. After Beauregard had retreated. Fort Pillow 
was evaouati'd, on the 4th of June. Fort Randall, some miles 
below, was abandoned by the enemy soon after, and the great 

river was open to Memi)his. 

8 



114 GRaJNT and his CAilPAIGNS. 



THE FIGHT AT JEEilPHIS. 



The people of Memphis, emboldened by the presence of a 
formidable rebel fleet, and encouraged by the confident pre- 
dictions ot its commander, Commodore Montgomery, that he 
would " soon send Lincoln's gunboats to the bottom," had col- 
lected upon the banks of the river, and at all points of ob- 
servation in the city, to see this gi-eat sight, not at all doubt- 
ful of the result. 

riag-OlHcer Foote had, at his own request, on the score of 
his health, which had greatly suffered, been relieved fi-om 
duty, and our fleet was now in charge of Commodore Charles 
Henry Davis, an ofiicer well known for his scientific attain- 
ments, and who was now determined to lose no time in win- 
ning honors like those which a gi-ateful country had awarded 
to the gallant Foote. Memphis gave him a splendid opportu- 
nity, and he made the most of it. On the 5th of June he left 
Fort Pillow, with a fleet of nine boats — five gunboats, two 
tugs, and Colonel EUet's two rams, the Queen City and Mon- 
arch. To oppose this force Montgomery had eight boats, 
mounting twenty-four guns, most of them rifled and pivoted. 

Want of space, and direct relevancy to the subject, forbids 
our describing the famous battle. It should be read in its ter- 
ribly picturesque details. The city on the hill-side, like the 
tiers in an amphitheatre ; the crowding inhabitants, eager, 
bitter, hopeful, and breathless ; the hostile lines of armed ves- 
sels ; the roar of their artillery ; the Queen City, under Colo- 
nel Ellet, crusliing in the sides of the Price like pasteboard ; 
the Monarch, under Captain Ellet, drenching the Beauregard 
with boiling water ; the burning of the boats ; the humanity 
of Davis and his men, as they pick up the drowning rebels ; 
the explosion of the Jeff. Thompson, which shakes Memphis 
to its foundations ; such are some of the elements of this gi'and 
pictorial display. We can only state the residts. The rebel 
flotilla, rammed by Ellet's boats, and torn to pieces by our 
shot, was put entirely hors dc combat. Three of the largest 
vessels, the Price, Beaui-egard, and Lovell, were sunk ; one. 



TlIIl SIE'JE OF CORINTH. 115 

the .TcfT. Thompson, wus buriKMl ; ami the throo othors, the 
Bragg, Sumter, and Little Eebel, were captured. It was a 
clean sweep, and with no loss to ourselves. C(»h)nel Ellct \\as 
tlie only man wounded, and liis ram, the Queen City, the only 
boat disabled, and tliat but t(^mporarily. It was a gallant ac- 
tion, and will rank high among the most memorable achieve- 
ments of the navy. 

Memphis, a hot-bed of treason, was thus ])rought into our 
possession, on the Gth of June. The river was open to Yicks- 
burg, above and below, and the new element, waited and 
longed for b}^ Grant, had at length fairly come into his calcu- 
lation. " On to Yicksburg" was now his cry, not to be abated 
until Yicksburg should fall, and the great river, upon which 
the last chances of rebel success depended, flow, with Uuiou 
boats, barges, and commerce, " unvexed to the sea." 

NEW EFFORTS OF THE ENE^rV. 

But the rebels were now fairly awake to their condition. If 
the people were alarmed and distrustful, and ready, upon 
Federal occupancy, to " come back to their old allegiance," 
the responsible leaders, selfish, clever, and determined, made 
good use of the lessons of disaster. The war was inaugurated 
for them and by them, and the people must be made to carry it 
on for their behoof. If they could not, as at first, " fire the 
Southern heart," they could at least press the Southern body 
into service ; and this they did in a most unscrupulous and ty- 
rannical, but effective manner. A sweeping conscription act 
was passed by the Confederate Congress, giving virtual power 
to the President to call out and place in the military service 
all white men between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, for 
three years or the war. No military despotism was ever so 
severe and so uncompromising. 

A little later, camps of instruction were establi.shed in each 
State : the le%nes were distributed according to a jiroportional 
system among the States ; lieutenant-generals were appoint- 
ed, to command corps and departments ; and troops from the 



IIG GRANT AJST) HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

same State were brigaded togetlier, — this latter being au iufini- 
tessimal concession to tlie Grand Lama of States-rights. In 
a word, every nerve was strained by the Confederate authori- 
ties to regain lost ground, repau* their broken fortunes, and 
achieve, at least, a partial success. 

The results were striking. The disasters of the spring of 
1862 wore followed by the successes of the Peninsula, the vic- 
tories of the second Bull Eun, and the advance into Mary- 
land. Eebel troops gathered in large numbers in the West, 
and Grant was to have no easy task in his advance upon 
Yicksburg. 

The first step towards Yicksburg was the capture and occu- 
pation of Holly Springs, by Sherman, on the 30th of June. 

Note. — Beauregard left tlio army at Tupelo on the 15th of June, relieving 
himself from duty, on account of ill-health, which he certified by the opinion of 
two surgeons. For two months he was in retirement with his family at Mobile 
and Bladon Springs ; and turned up again at Charleston, in an unimj^ortaut 
command. He had evidently fallen under the displeasure of the Davis admin- 
istration.* 



♦ The rationale of this is thus presented by the Confedi'rate General Jordan, in an excellent 
article on Jiffcrsjon Diivis, in Harper's Monthly Magazine for Octobor, ISCo: 

"General Beanreirar'l, for some time in bad lii-.illh, tlimight it lest for the service to take 
advantage of the lull in operations, incident to tlie position of his aimy at Tupelo, aft.r tlie Suc- 
cessful evacuaiion of Corinth, and by a short re.-^piie from duty, sot-k to recuperate. He therefore 
retired to Bladon Springs, some twelve hours distant by railroad, turning over the command to 
General Brass, with instructions looking to the preparation of the army for the field at once on 
his return, wliich lie anticipated would be in three w.eks. But no sooner had Mr. Davis lieard 
of this step lh:in h- tfloprnphed General Braii: to a.<>sunie permanent command. General Beaure- 
gard wa.^ thus laid on the shelf— not to be rein>lated, aa Mr. Davis passionately declared, though 
the whi>le worhl sl.ould urge him to the measure." 

The last Sentence lie substantiates by referring to " Not.>9 of Interview of Congressional Com- 
mittee with Mr. Davis, to request restoration of General Beauregard to his command." 



U'KA AM) t(»UINTlI. 117 



CH.VPTER XI. 

lUKA AND CORIXTU. 

After a DRitr halt, fokward. — Administkation. — Icka. — I'iuce MARciiEa cp. — 
Gkaxt's sAOAi iTY. — The battle. — Kosecrans and Ord. — Difficilt oroind. — 
1'rue retreats 801THWARI). — C'oRixTii. — The fortifications. — Price's attack 

— Van Dorn's. — The bloouy repulse. — (Jrd and IIurlbut in flank and rear. 

— '• llow Does it all suu up ?" — Sketcues of commanders. 

On tlio lltli of August, bj general orders from the War 
Department, General Halleck was assigned to the command 
of " the ■vvholo land forces of the United States, as grneral-in- 
chief." This caused a new arrangement to be made at the 
West ; and for the time, until that could be made, it gave Gen- 
eral Grant an extended military jiirisdiction, great labors of 
administration, and — one good thing at least — " amjjle room 
and verge enough" for his new schemes. In the mean time, 
from June till September, there was but little fighting in his 
department. He bent his energy to a thorough reorganiza- 
tion, and sent some of his troops, by orders from AYa.shington, 
to re-enforce Buell's army, seriously threatened by Bragg's 
advance through East Tennessee and Kentucky towards the 
Ohio River. He also kept his cavahy in constant reconnois- 
sances, to ascertain the position of the enemy, and to guard 
all parts of his command against secret movements and sur- 
prises. With his wcakLned force he could not do more. 

His orders with regard io passes and paroles — carefully 
•'istinguishiug between innocent, sutVering citizens and the 
friends and sympathizers of the rebellion — are clear and 
statesmanlike. His treatment of guerrillas, wlio were batten- 
ing, like birds of prey, upon friends and foes alike, was sharp 



113 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

and relentless * Rebel sympathizers were to pay, by sudden 
seizure of their property, for such depredations. " The Mem- 
phis Avalanche," a newspaper echoing the secret thoughts of 
the citizens, in an overbold manner, was suddenly suspended 
for uttering treasonable sentiments, and only permitted to 
renew its issue ujDon the withdi-awal of its seditious editor. 
The disjjosition made of fugitive negi'oes was practical :t they 

* General Ordeks, No (iO. 

Headquarters District of West Ten>-essek, 
ilEiiPHis, Ten>-., July 3, lb02. 

The system of guerilla -warfare now being prosecuted by some troops organ- 
ized under authority of the so-called Southern Confederacy, and others without 
such authority, being so pernicious to the welfare of the community where it is 
carried on, and it being within the power of the community to suppress this 
system, it is ordered, that wherever loss is sustained by the Government, collec- 
tions shall be made, by seizure of a sufficient amount of personal property, from 
persons in the immediate neighborhood sj-mpathizing with the rcbeUiou, to 
remunerate the Government for all loss and expense of the same. 

Persons acting as guerrillas, without organization, and without uniform to 
distinguish them from private citizens, are not entitled to the treatment of 
prisoners of war when caught, and will not receive such treatment. 

By order of 
I ALa-Jor-General U. S. Gr.v>;t. 

John A. Rawlins, A. A. G. 

f We give the following order in fall, as indicating the true military course, 
in pursuance of the Act of Congress : 

General Orders, No. 72. 

Headquarters Department of West Ten-messee, 
CoRLNTH, Miss., .\ujjust 11, 180'J. 
The recent act of Congress i)rohibits the army from returning fugitives 
from labor to their claimants, and authorizes the employment of such pei-s<m3 
in the service of the Government. The following orders are therefore published 
for the guidance of the anuy in this matter : 

1. All fugitives thus employed must be registered ; the names of the fugi- 
tive and claimant given ; and must be borne upon the morning report of the 
command in which they are kept, showing how they are employed. 

2. Fugitives may bo employed as laborers in the Quartermaster's, Subsistence, 
and Engineer department; and whenever by such employment a soldier may 
be saved to the ranks, they may be employed as teamsters and as company 
cooks, not exceeding four to a c«)mpany, or as hospital attendants and nurses. 
Officers may employ them as private servants ; in which latter case the fugi- 
tives will not be paid or rationed by the Government. Negroes thu.s employed 
must be secured as authorized persons, luid will be excluded from tlie cami)6. 



lUKA AND C'OiMNTII. 119 

wero put to usofiil employintnit, ;iiitl kimlly tivatcd, ^\llilo 
awftitiiig ihr further jiction oi tlio CJovommcnt couconimg 
them. 

Ill a piofcssiMlly military work, we have not (h'cmcd it 
necessary to tlwtll upon these details of (li'j)artm('iital ori^'ani- 
zatiou ; Imt wlieu all his onlers and dispatclu^s are published 
in a Ixidy, as they will be hereafter, tlicy will show that such 
duties form by no means the hghtest and easiest labors of a 
general charged with an extensive dei^ai-traent. To a militarj' 
man, fighting battles is truly an easier task ; and besides, it 
is not often the case that the commander, who marshals men 
sldlfully upon the field, is equal to this more jiidicial and dip- 
lomatic task. The converse is also true. It adds gi-eatly, 
therefore, to the reputation of General Grant, that he could 
do both in so admirable a manner. Sound judgment, clear 
good sense, and pithy expression, characterize all these exec- 
utive papers. 

But the wild fire of battle was soon to sweep over his com- 
mand, and give him the more technical duties of a general to 
perform. 



3. Officers and soldiers are jxJsitively prohibited from enticins: slaves to 
leavo their ni:\sters. When it becomes necessary to employ this kind of labor, 
the commanding officer of the post or troop must send details, all under the 
charge of a suitable commissioned oflScer, to press into service the slaves of 
persons to the number required. 

4. Citi/.ens within reach of any military station, known to be disloyal and 
dangerous, may be ordered away or arrested, and their crops and stock taken 
for the benefit of the Government or the use of the army. 

5. All property taken from rebel owners must be duly reported, and used 
for the benefit of the Uavemment, an<l l)e issued to the tro<ii>s through the 
proper dipnrtmi-nt ; and when practicable, the act of taking should be accom- 
panied by the written certificate of the officer so taking, to the owner or agent 
of such prop-rty. 

It is enjoined on all commanders to s«'e that this order is executed strictly 

under their own direction. Tlie demoralization of troojie, subsequent upon 

being left to execute laws in their own way, without a proper head, must be 

avoided. By command of 

M.vjok-Okmikai. Guaxt. 
John A. R.vwxn?s, A. A. G. 



220 GRAKT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

General Pope, wlio had commanded the Army of the Mis- 
sissippi, in the advance upon Corinth, had been called a^vay 
to the far more difficult task of commanding the Ai-mj of 
Virginia. A personal friend of Mr. Lincoln, and a regular 
officer of Topogi-aphical Engineers, his labors in Missom-i, 
his success at New Madiid, and his activity at Corinth, 
had prefen-ed him to this dangerous honor. Kosecrans, of 
West Yirgiuia repute, replaced him in command of the Ai-my 
of the Mississippi. Our gimboats were still busy on the Mis- 
sissippi. On the 26th of Jime, the mortar-boats had gone 
down to Vicksburg, and engaged the batteries, now manned 
by a portion of the rebel army which had retreated fi'om 
Corinth. The importance of Yicksburg being now manifest 
to the Confederate authorities, every nei-ve was strained to 
make it strong against the day of Grant's attack. 

On the 5th of August, General Breckimidge attacked Baton 
Kouge, but was repulsed, after a temble sti'uggle, in which 
the Union commander. General Tom "Williams, was killed. 

Such are some of the collateral events which bore, more or 
less directly, upon the welfare of Grant's department. And 
now. Grant's careful reconnoissances disclosed the rebel 
desif'ns upon his own department, and enabled him to make 
skiKul combinations to defeat them. 



THE BATl'LE OF lUEA. 

General Sterling Price, with a force of twelve thousand 
men, marched boldly up from the south, to cross the Mem- 
phis and Charleston Eailroad at some point between Corinth 
and Tuscumbia, probably at luka. As he advanced, on the, 
10th of September, to Jacinto, the small Union garrison at 
that place retired to Corinth. Tuscumbia was also evacuated 
by Colonel Murphy, of General Stanley's division, who fell 
back in haste to luka. The httle garrison of luka was, in 
pursuance of the same general orders, withdra^^^l to Corinth, 
and :Murphy was left behind it, to destroy the stores collected 



lUKA AND COIMNTII. 



121 



tlioro, and fall back also upou Corintli. But Pnco was too 
quick, or Murphy was too slow in destroying tlio stores, and 
too quick in leaving them, for the latter was driven out by 
Price's advance, leaving a quantity of supplies undcstroyed. 




a. Powell's Battaiy. 
t. tW.l Oliio. 
C. 4.S.I Ohio. 

d. •JTtli dlii... 

e. K9ih (lliio. 

/. Stli Wbconsln. 



ff. 2rih Tlllnoli. 
/i. 47 li I liiiMig. 

t imh l..\v». 
k. 4M!i InilKina. 
I. IGlli lowa. 
«7t. 5tU luwiu 

OPEKATIOXS AT I UK A. 



n. 2Slh MitsonrL 
o. ITili In«s 
p. 4tb Mlnnr»<>t«. 
y llili Olil.. r.iitcry. 

r. Si r'.- lJ:iUfry. 

«. 11th MissiiurL 



The game, the opening of which Grant had been expecting, 
was now becoming interesting. Price occupied luka and the 
railroad ; but it was manifestly Grant's intention to permit 
this temporary possession, in order that he might fully discern 
the enemy's plans, and form his own intelligently. The re- 
ports with regard to Price's designs were numerous, confused, 
and deceptive. Grant's caution was emincntl}* proper, and 



122 GRA^'T A^'D HIS campaigns. 

•was abiinJantlv repaid ; for it became evident tliat Price ■u'as 
making a fciiit to cross the Tennessee, as if to follow Buell, 
■\vlio was then retreating upon Xasb^'iUe, in order to draw 
Grant's forces aAvay from Corinth, upon which stronghold the 
fooUiardv, brave, but unskilful Yau Dorn was marching with 
all speed. 

But the rebel government was most unfortunate in the 
choice of its generals sent to coufi'ont Grant. Yan Dorn and 
Price were no match for Grant, Piosecraus, and Ord, either in 
planning or fighting. Their every movement was promptly 
met, their wildest attacks repulsed, and their armies scattered. 
The reader cannot help pitying such military imbecility. 

Grant's course was now taken. He knew, fi-om his scouts, 
that Yan Dorn's army could not reach Corinth for four days. 
This would give him time to punish Price's temerity at luka, 
and then return to receive Yan Dorn's -s-isit with a warm wel- 
come at Corinth. But every hour was of incalcvdable import- 
ance, and there was not a moment's delay. 

He directed General Ord, Anth a force of three thousand 
men, having left ganisons at Corinth and other points, to 
move on the left of the raih-oad, through Burnsville, to Iiika. 
Colonel Boss was telegraphed to come at full speed fi'om 
Bohvar, on the same route, and, leaving a small rear-guard at 
Burnsville, to join Ord, with three thousand foiu- hundi-ed 
men. Tliis force, six thousand five himdred in all, was to at- 
tack Price from the north, wherever he should offer or receive 
battle. 

To complete this progi-arame, Bosecrans was ordered to send 
one divisimi of Stanley's, with Mizner's cavah-y, by way of Ja- 
cinto, to strike the enemy's flank, while Hamilton moved round 
by the Fulton road, to cut off his southward retreat, or turn it 
into a rout. The force thus commanded by Bosecrans was 
nine thousand men, making the entire Union force in the field 
something more than that of Price ; the disparity, however, 
being more than neutralized by the rebel choice of position. 
The combined movement of Grant's troops began at four 
o'clock in tlio morning of September 18. That niglit the 



IlKA AM) COIUNTII. 123 

weavy trooi)s of Rosccriins, after niaichinf^ tlirough a drcnch- 
iiig rain-storm, hivouackcd at Ja»'iiito. 

Advancing »:irly on tlio l!)tli, after a sliarp fight, tlicy drove 
• the relu'ls in fioia Barnett's Corners, and at once iniKhed on to 
luka. Tliere, on an exterior ridge, lioseerans found Price, and 
there was lieavy lighting till night, principally by the Eleventh 
Missouri, Fifth Iowa, and Eleventh Ohio Batter}', of Hamil- 
ton's division, which were so admirably handled by that oflicer, 
that he received the special encomiunis of Grant and liose- 
erans. The ground was exceedingly broken, and tangled with 
thickets, and interlaced by small creeks and ravhies. It was 
very dillicult to bring the troops into action in considerable 
boilies. Most of the fighting was done by congeries of troops, 
where the ground wordd permit them to be formed. Superior 
numbers gave small advantage, and yet the action was of the 
severest character. Three or four times the guns of the Elev- 
enth Ohio were taken and retaken. But when nightfall 
closed the action, they were in the hands of the enemy. The 
slaughter was great. 

■^liile we behold lioseerans thus fighthig the battle, the 
question arises, AVhere was Ord ? Grant had started with the 
column of Ord on the morning of the 18th ; and expected, 
upon reacLing the neighborhood of luka, to be in constant 
communication with lioseerans, so that Ord's troops might 
make a combined and simultaneous movement. 

Arrived upon the gi'ound, the tangled nature of the country 
made it necessary for both commanders to send dispatches a 
long way round. These dispatches arrived too late for con- 
cert of action, gave rise to misunderstandings, and prevented 
the timely co-operation of Ord's force. 

To illustrate the difficulties of the situation : On the IDlh, 
at half-past ten o'clock r. m.. General Eosecrans, resting upon 
his arms, only two miles southwest of luka, sent a ilispatch to 
General Grant, stating that he had been- heavily engaged for 
several houi-s, and had lost three pieces of artillery, and ask- 
ing for the a.ssistance and co-o])oration of tlie troops under 
Ord. This dispatch, which should have been in Grant's hands 



124: GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

in two hours, did not reach him until thirly-five minutes past 
eight the next morning. Grant, stung bj the delay, wi'ote to 
Ord, in urgent language : " Ilosecraus may find his hands full. 
Hurry up your troops — all possible." Ord, a dashing soldier, 
always ready for a fight, mshed in ; but too late for blows. 
Indeed, he had pushed on with the morning hght, without 
waiting for orders. To give some idea of the character of the 
country between the two attacking forces. Colonels Dickey and 
Logan, of Grant's staff, who had gone to General Eosecrans 
in the afternoon, became lost and entangled in the woods on 
their return, were out all night, and did not reach head- 
quarters until nine in the morning. J3ut the presence of 
Grant and Ord, if not so briUiant a service as the hard fight- 
ing of Eosecrans, had greatly conduced to the result. Price 
made double-quick time to Bay Sjjrings, twenty-seven miles 
south, on the Fulton road. One of his best generals, Little, 
was kiUed. He had lost upwards of a thousand prisoners, left 
his dead unburied, and his woimded to our care. From rebel 
sources, wc learn that, on their retreat, his troops committed 
thefts, burglaries, and every kind of outrage, upon their own 
people, exhibiting a barbarous spirit, which theii' officers could 
not restrain. luka was a success ; but it was more as one 
part of General Grant's complex plan, and in the fact that the 
rebels retreated during the following night, than in the fight- 
ing of the 19th, as valorous and terrific as it was.* 

* The following is Grant's telegraphic dispatch : 

IiKA, N[i?s., SeptcmVer 20, 1S62. 
To Majok-Gexekal IT. W. TTat.leck, General-in-Clnef: 

General IJosecrans, with Stanh'y's and Ilamiltnn's divisions, and Mizner's 
cavalry, attaclied Price soutli of this village about two hours before dark yes- 
terday, and had a sharp fight until night closed in. General Ord was to tho 
north, with an armed force of abcnit five thousand men, and had some skir- 
mishing with the rebel pickets. This morning, the fight was renewed by Gen- 
eral I'opoerans, who wiis nearest to the town ; but it was found that the enemy 
had been evacuating during the night, going south. Generals Hamilton and 
Stiinley, with cavalry, are in full pursuit. 

Tliis will, no doubt, bnaiv up the enemy, and jiossibly force them to abauilon 
much of their artillery. Tho loss on either side, \v killed and wounded, is from 



lUKA AND CORINTn. I05 

If 0(Mioi-:il Grant had not nccomplishod over}* thing lio Imd 
hojKxl — and tKo capture of Price's army was one of his 
liopos — he liad done much. Price's plans and his army wore 
totally defeated and scattered within the time Grant had pro- 
posed to himst>lf. On the 2'2d, he withdrew liis forces, and 
rctunied to Corinth, to pjreet Van Dorn. If Price had ever 
meant to move northward, upon Buell's track, he was making 
good time now in tlie opposite direction. 

Anel now having disjiosed of Price, let us look after Yan 
Dorn, in whose behalf the grand diversion of luka had been 
made. 

THE BATTLE OF CORINTH. 

Although Yan Dorn was approaching fi'om the West, it was 
still uncertain Avherc he would attack. Grant, therefore, pro- 
vided for the safety of all the posts within the theatre of his 
operations. Eosecraus was marched back through Jacinto to 
Corinth, which he reached on the 2Gth. Ord went to Bolivar, 
which might be the point of attack, and from which, in any 
event, he could easily move a succoring force ; and Grant re- 
turaed to his headquarters at Jackson. General Ilurlbut was 
thrown out, Avith his division, towards Pocahontas. The rebel 
generals now combined their forces. Price, by a decided cir- 
cumflexion of about one hundred and eighty degrees, as a 
glance at the map will show, joined Yan Dorn at Dumas. 



four hundred to five hundred. Tlie enemy's loss, in arm?, tents, etc., will be 
large. We have alwut two hundred and fifty prisoners. 

Thave reliable intelligence that it was Price's intention to move over cast of 
the Tennessee. In this, he has been thwarted. Among the enemy's loss are 
General Little, killed ; and General Whitefield, woumled. 

I cannot sin-ak too lii;^hly of the cncrg)- and ekill displayed by General Roso- 
crnns in the attack, and of the endurance of the troops. Gineriil Ord's com- 
mand showtnl untiring zeal ; but the direction taki-n by the enemy prevented 
them from taking the active part they desired. Price's force was about 
eighteen thousand. 

U. 8. Qka^xt, Major-Oeneral. 



123 GRANT AND HI3 CAifP.VlGXS. 

The force tliiis united proceeded nortli-vvard to Pocaliontas, 
on the State line, where they met the troops of Mansfield 
Lovcll. Thus ptrengthened, Van Dorn moved bj the raih-oad 
though Chewalla upon Corinth, once more to become a field 
of carnage, and a scene of rebel discomfitm-e. 

The rebel defences of Corinth, to which we formerly al- 
luded, had been so extended — fifteen miles of fortification 
requiring a great many men to man them — that vvhen Gen- 
eral Halleck occupied the post, he had constructed an inner 
line, more easily defensible by a smaller force. But Grant 
was not satisfied with these. Major F. E. Prime, the chief 
engineer of General Grant, imder his direction, threw up a 
line of batteries on the north front, far inside of Halleck's 
line, and close to the toAvn of Corinth, having an enfilading 
fire upon the Bolivar and Chewalla roads, and a sweeping, 
cross-fire upon all assailable parts of the entire fi'ont. On 
the extreme right were the old works of Beauregard ; and 
fi'om that point the chain of forts reached to the extreme left. 

■\\^icn General Grant had been appointed, in July, 1862, to 
the command of all the forces in the District of West Tennes- 
see and Northern Mississippi, he had examined the defences 
of Corinth, which were then being constructed under the su- 
perintendence of General Cullum, and expressed the opinion to 
General Halleck that they would be appropriate if we had 
an army of one hundred thousand men to defend them, 
but that they were of too great extent for tlie force we then 
had. Immediately upon General Halleck's departure for 
Washington, these works were pushed forward with energ;^', 
and l)y the 25th of September, when Eosecrans took com- 
mand, they were nearly, completed. To Major Prime, under 
General Grant's orders, belongs the credit of laying out and 
constnicting the fortifications against which the enemy was 
now about to hurl his masses, with impetuous but unavailing 
valor. 

To a late moment doubtful of the rebel plans, and judging 
that, cognizant as they were of the strength of the works at 
Coriutli, the enemy would try a weaker point — unpro^-id('d, 



^ lUKA AND COH IXTIT. ]-27 

too, with a proper map of the couiitrv north and west of liiin — 
Geucral llosocraiis made r»\a(ly, likf a prudent mariner in 
thick woathin", for wliatovor mi^lit bcfaU. 

He called in his outposts from the soutli and east; sent a 
reconnoissance, under O^dc^sby, on the Chewalla road, and 
posted liis small force well in front to receive him. Stanley 
was stationed beyond Bridge Creek ; Oliver, with a brigade 
and a battery, on the left, in advance ; Davies in the centre, 
and Hamilton on the right. Mizuer's cavalry was disposed 
in every direction around the town, watching the roads at 
BurnsviUe, Boneyard, Kossuth, and also in the front. 

At length they came, announcing their plans in person ; it 
is on the Chewalla road. Oliver's brigade is soon hard 
pressed, and is Supported by Mc Arthur's. The fighting, which 
begins with skirmishing, assumes the proportions of a battle. 
The rebel numbers constantly increase. Mc Arthur is pressed 
back in turn, when Davies, next on his left, becomes engaged. 
An interval appears between Mc Arthur and Davies, in which 
the rebels push so vigorously that Davies rapidly falls back a 
thousand yards to save his left flank, and in so doing ho loses 
tru'o heavy guns. The rebel advance has been bold and im- 
petuous. 

New dispositions were now made, bringing our forces nearer 
the town, when night ended the conflict, which was but the 
herald of a gi'eater. Deceived, however, by the comparative 
ease of his advance, General Van Dorn sent a telegraj^h to 
Richmond, announcing a great victoiT ! 

The morning of October 4 ushered in the great battle. The 
Confederate line was well closed up to within a thousand 
yards of our works, and during the night they had throAvn uj) 
some liatteries in our fiont. Besides Tan Dorn, Price, and 
Lovell, they had among theu' generals Yillej^gue, Ilust, Mau- 
ry, and L. Hebert, — all determined men of our old army, but 
gifted, except Hebert, with little military talent. Their troops 
were excellent stuff, and deserved better commanders. 

The groimd in front of our position, over which they were 
to come, was of varied character. On the north and east it 



128 GRANT AND HIS CA^IPAIGNS. 

alternated in hill and swampj land, both covered by forest- 
trees and uudergi'owth. 

On the north and west there were fields interspersing the 
woods ; in front of the right centre, a swamp ; and in front 
of the left centre, impracticable hills. Our left, held bv Stan- 
ley's division, was protected by Battery Eobinette on the left, 
and Battery Williams on the right. Our centre was on a 
sHght ridge, just north of the houses of Corinth, and consisted 
of Davies' diWsion, shghtly retired, with sharp-shooters in 
fi'ont, and having Battery Powell on the right. Hamilton's 
division was on the right, with Dillon's battery, advanced be- 
yond Davies, and having two regiments in rear of his left. 

The first act of the rebels was in the form of a cannonade 
from their newly erected batteries ; but these were soon 
silenced by our guns. At half-past nine o'clock they moved 
to the attack upon our centre. The battle raged upon Davies 
and Fort PoweU. The BoHvar road, by which they came, was 
swept by our guns : huge gaps were made in theu' column, 
but, without lialting, they opened out in a loose deployment, 
encircling our hues, and losing fearfully as they came up. 
Nothing stopped them. " They came up," writes an eye-witness 
to the Cincinnati Commercial (October 9), " with their faces 
averted, Uke men striving to protect themselves against a driv- 
ing storm of hail." They reach the broad glacis ; our troops 
are on the rude covered way, and will certainly repel them, 
were it not for an unaccountable panic which stiiick a portion 
of Davies' division. This will never do. Davies stmggles 
manfully to check it. Eosecrans flies into their midst, fights 
like a simple grenadier, and, with entreaties, threats, and the 
flat of his sabre, j)uts an end to the " untimely and untoward 
stampede," which was but partial after all.* 

This momeuta% success has, however, encouraged the Con- 
federates. Once and again swept away by the fire of Battery 

* The report of the stampeding of General Davies' (Second) division was 
premature and exaggerated. It was only partial, and soon checked. General 
Rosccrans indorsed General Davies' report of the battle ; and not only is the 
apparent disgrace removed, but the investigation reflects credit on Davies and 



lUKA AND CORINTH 120 

Richardson, tlicy return to tho cliar^'c, storm Fort Powell, and 
" tlio raj^'j^od head of tho column" even penetrates into the 
town, when a section of Immcl's battery, supported by the 
Tenth Ohio and tho Fifth Minnesota, drives them out. Gen- 
eral Sullivan comes to Davies' aid ; to-^etlwr they retake 
Battery Powell, while on tho extrejue rij^dit Hamilton's f^nins 
sweep the avenues of advance and retreat. 

Such was the failure of Price's attack on our ri^dit centre. 

The attack on the h>ft was conducted by Van Dorn in per- 
son. Under cover of a cloud of skii-mishers, lie had formed 
his men in column of attack, and twenty minutes after Price 
moved forward, he launched four columns upon Battery liobi- 
nette and our adjacent lines. His heavy guns are disposed in 
rear. Then began those " gorgeous pp'otcchnics of the brit- 
tle," spoken of by General Eosccrans, the description of 
which he leaves to " pens dipped in poetic ink." The fight- 
ing was indeed Homeric. From the moment they came in 
sight, until they were within fifty yards of the work, they were 
mowed, and torn, and shattered by gi'ape, shell, and canister ; 
and when, after a gallant advance, these brave Mississippi 
and Texas troops pause for a breathing space, before a final 
charge, the Ohio and Missouri regiments, which have been 
hing flat, rise at a signal, and pour in a volley, before which 
the enemy reel and fall back in horror. But even this does 
not keep them long dismayed. They came to take Corinth, 
and they are not going to give it up so easily. 

Once more the devoted band is formed. At least, they now 
know what to expect ; they have tried it, and are ready to try 
it again ; no coming storm can equal the last in fury. On 
they come, breasting the furious fire of the batteries, every 
gun now double-shotted ; they reach the edge of the ditch ; 



Lis men. That di\nsion did yeomen's service ; it Ixjre the brunt of the firpi 
dhv's fight. One of itH brigade comnianders, the gnllant Hn«kl<Miian, was 
killed ; another. Ogle»bj-, was wounded -at the time it was Buppose<l mortally. 
There is no doubt that murli confusion exisKnl on the part of the line lield l)y 
this division, on reo-ivinjj the rebel attack on tlie morning: of the Uh, but it 
did not ext<'nd far, and only a portion of the line gave way. 

9 



130 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

they are crossing, when the stunning fire of the Eleventh Mis- 
souri and Twenty-seventh Ohio is again poured in ; the cry of 
the Federal brigade commander, Charge ! rings above the 
noise of battle ; the men repeat it, and the regiments, swarm- 
ing over their works, chase the broken fragments of these gal- 
lant stormers back to the woods ; many, crouching in the 
abatis, surrender at discretion, waving their handkerchiefs 
on sticks, and begging to be spared for God's sake. Yan 
Doru had done no better than Price. By noon the battle was 
ended. After waiting a brief space for the reappearance of 
the enemy, our skii-mishers advanced to find him gone. Kose- 
crans galloped, in person, to all parts of his Hue, to inform his 
command, and to give them rest and rations, preparatory to a 
pursuit at dayKght. Upon his retiuii, he found McPherson, 
with a fresh brigade, in the square : he had come up after 
the battle, and was dii'ected to take the advance of the 
pursuit. The enemy's loss was one thousand foui- hundi-ed 
and twenty-three officers and men killed, and upwards of five 
thousand wounded; two thousand two hundi'ed and forty- 
eight prisoners were taken, with foui'teen colors and two 
guns.* They were pui'sued forty miles by the entii'e force, 
and sixty miles with cavahy. 

Back, like the king of France, posted the rebels, on the 
Chewalla road, to the bridge across the Tuscumbia, near Po- 
cahontas, and a body was detached to guard the crossing of 
the Hatchie ; but they were not yet through their troubles. 
A tli(n'u was in theu- side. One part of Grant's plans had 
been most gallantly carried out b}' Eoseerans, at Corinth ; the 
complementary part was to come. Hurlbut had been sent to 



*The troops engaged in the Imttlo of Corinth were: Hamilton's division, 
containing the brigades of Buford and Sullivan ; Davies' division, brigades of 
Oglesby and Hackelman ; Stanley's division, nine regiments ; one brigade of 
McKean's small division, commanded by McArthur : batterits — First Missouri ; 
Third Michigan ; Conii)any F, United States artillery ; Tenth and Eleventh 
Oliio ; Eighth and Twelfth Wisconsin ; three Missouri C(nniianies. The Bat- 
t«'ries Robinette, Richardson, etc., were named from their commanders. Cap- 
tain Richardson was kiUed. 



UK A .VND CORINTH. 131 

attack tlio (lotachuicnt ; and, aftor lianl fi«jjlitin;^', IkuI drivpii it 
five miles back, across the Hatcliie, towards C()riiitli, liavinfj 
taken two gims and three hundred prisomrs, Ord came up 
on the following day, October 5, and took command. The 
fighting was severe. Late in the aftenioon, General Ord fell, 
severely woimdeil, and General HurlVmt assumed the com- 
mand. The disheartened rebels, ])attle-woru and weary- with 
the rapid flight, were driven by Ord's impetuosity to make a 
wide circuit, and cross the Hatchie at Crum's Mill, six miles 

Qkner-vl Orders, No. 88. 

IIeadqcakters Departmext of West Texxessee, 
Jacksox, Texx., October 7, 1S62. 

It is with heartfelt gratitude the general commanding congratulates the 
armies of the We.st for another great victor)' won by them on the 3d, 4th, and 
5th instant, over the combined armies of Van Dorn, Price, and Lovell. 

The enemy chose his own time and place of attack, and knowing the troops 
of the West as he d(X's, and with great facilities for knowing th<ir numbers, 
never would have made the attempt, except with a i<uiH?rior force numerically. 
But for the undauntid bravery of officers and soldiers, who Jmre yet to learn 
defeat, the efforts of the enemy must have proven successful. 

Whilst one division of the army, under Major-Oeneral Rosecrans, was resist- 
ing and repelling the onslaught of the rebel hosts at Corinth, another, from 
Bolivar, under Major-General Ilurlbut, was marching upon the enemy's rear, 
driving in their j)ickets and cavalry, and attracting the attention of a largo 
force of infantry and artillery. On the following day, under Major-Qcneral 
Ord, these forces advanced with unsurpassed gallantry, driving the enemy 
back across the Hatchie, over ground where it is almost incredible that a su- 
perior force should be driven by an inferior, capturing two of the batteries 
(eight guns), many hundred small-anns, and several hundred prisoners. 

To those two divisions of the army all praise is due, and will be awarded by 
a grateful country. 

B.-twwn them there should lie, and I trust are, the wannest bonds of 
brotherhood. Each was risking life in the same cause, ami. on this occasion, 
risking it also to save and assist the other. No tnxips could do more than 
these separate armies. Each did all possible for it to do in the places assignetl it. 

As in all great battles, so in this, it becomes our fate to mourn the loes of 
many brave and faithful officers and soldiers, who have given up their lives as 
a sacrifice for a great principle. Tlie nation mourns for them. 

By command of 

Majob-General U. S. QaAiiT 

John A. Rawllxs, A. A. («. 



132 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

aboTG. Eosecrans was recalled from the pursuit, and Grant 
was master of the field for fiitui'e moyeraents. 

On the receipt of the inteUipjence at Washington, Mr. Lin- 
coln telegraphed his congi-atulations, and asked the qiiestion : 
" How does it all sum up ?" This is a significant inquiry, 
which we may now answer. The brief campaign had demon- 
strated the clearness of Grant's military judgment, and the 
admirable interrelation of his plans. Doubtful of the purposes 
of Price and Yan Dorn, he lured the former onward to Iidia, 
to oljtain the desired information. When he found that they 
were in collusion, and that Price was trying to di*aw him off, 
that Yan Dorn might attack, he calculated his time, sent Ord 
and Kosecrans to whip Price, and to retm-n in time to beat 
Yan Dorn. Yan Dom, foolhardily, advanced on Coiiuth, and 
Grant, confiding that part to Rosecrans, set a trap for Yan 
Dorn's retreat. All this was clock-work, calculated to hours, 
if not to minutes. 

Of the principal officers on both sides, we may draw hasty 
pen-and-ink sketches, which we belieye vrill be recognized by 
theii" acquaintance : 

EosEciiANS. — This general, a graduate of West Point, in the 
engineers, of 1842, is actiye, earnest, and especially e)ifJiU-sias- 
tic. He became a Roman Cathohc, after ha^•ing been a very 
deyout Episcopalian, and is a proselyter. Haying found what 
he thinks the good way, he spares no efforts to bring others 
into it. Checrfid, easy of access, careless in matters of di'ess 
and show, his hold on his army is by means of his knowledge, 
his intense interest in the least of his military duties, and his 
great valor in the field. The reputation gained by his suc- 
cesses in West Yii'ginia, and his factories at luka and Corinth, 
was increased by the battle of Stone River, and somewhat im- 
paired by that of the Chickamauga. 

Ord. — Ord is essentially a fighting man, on the lookout for 
a chance of battle, and yet not wanting in that cool judgment 
whieli makes the genoral. His defeat of Stuart's rebel brigade, 
at Drainesville, was of great moral value at the time, and 
(b-ew from liis fiieutl and fellow-brigadier, Jt)lin Y. Reynolds, 



ll'KA AND COIJLNTII. ];;;{ 

himself a fi^'litinj; ^'oiktuI, tlio rciiiiuk : "Confound that fd- 
k)w ! I knew, If thoro wiis a fij^'ht to be scared uj), Old would 
find it." 

Van Doun. — This doughty Confederate eavaliiT, of Rose- 
eraus' class at Wfst Point, has greatly astonished his old as- 
sociates. West Point men of his time remember him as a 
small, handsome, modest youth, literally at the foot of his 
class. In Mexico, he was on the staff of General P. F. Smith, 
and was very popular ; for, to his other qualities he added 
dashing bravery. His conspicuous course in the rebel in- 
terests, at the breaking out of the war, deceived them into 
t hinkin g him a general. A good soldier he certainly was — 
brave, dashing, a splendid horseman ; b;it he lacked head, and 
was always taking his men into culs de sacs. He died by the 
hand of a man who believed that he had seduced his wife. 

PiJicE. — As a general, Price was inferior to Van Dom ; for 
to want of head he added want of knowledge. His march 
with Doniphan was not soldiering, and he had no experience. 
He was at swords' points with the regular Confederate of- 
ficers. 



134 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 



CHAPTEE XII. 

THE DEPAKTMENT OF .THE TENNESSEE. 

The extent of Grant's oouuand. — Disteicts. — Eetbospeot. — Williams' canal. — 
Fakragct's fleet. — The Arkansas destroyed. — Grant moves. — Pembebton in 

COMMAND of THE REBEL ARMY. — GbaNT's ARMY AND STAFF. — TraDE. — ThK VALUE 

OF VicKSBURG.— Port Hudson. — The Tallahatchie. — Hovey's movement. — 
The prospect bright.— Murphy's surrender. — Sherman's expedition to Vicks- 
BURG. — Unsuccessful. — Arkansas Post.— Army corps. — Emancipation procla- 
mation, AND colored troops. 

By general orders from the War Department, bearing date 
of October 16, 1862, General Grant was assigned to the ex- 
tended command entitled the Department of the Tennessee. 
He had vii'tually exercised it before, since the departm-e of 
General Halleck ; but he officially assumed it, by a general 
order, on the 25th of October. It included Caii-o, Forts Henry 
and Douelson, Northern Mississippi, and those portions of 
Tennessee and Kentucky west of the Tennessee Kiver. His 
headquarters were at Jackson, Tennessee, from which he 
could most conveniently organize and arrange for supphes and 
re-enforcements to carry out his new plans — plans, as the se- 
quel proved, of colossal dimensions, and testing the utmost 
endeavors of a gi'eat commander. Buell having been defeated 
at Perry\'ille on the 8th of October, Bragg began a leisiu'ely 
retreat on the 12th ; and, to expedite it, Kosccrans superseded 
BueU on the 30th. 

Grant's first care was to make a provisional di%-ision of his 
department into districts. His force was in four divisions, 
and they wore thus posted : Major-General Sherman, with the 
first division, commanded the district of Memphis ; Major- 
General Hurlbut, with the second, that of Jackson. The dis- 
trict of Corinth was in charge of Brigadier-General C. S. 



THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE. 135 

Hamilton, witli tlio third division ; and that of Columbus 
was in cliargo of Brigadier-CTCUoral T. A. Davics, witli tlio 
fourtli. 

His executive and administrative ability were now disj)laycd 
in preparations for the now campaif,ni, and, not loss, in his 
control of the oon(piorod torritory which ho commanded. He 
republished and camod out the judicious order (»f (Imcral 
Hallock (No. 100), principally limiting tho kinds and numbers 
of army trains, baggage, etc., cutting down these inijm/imenta 
to the smallest figure, both for officers and men ; and he set 
the example so rigorously himself, that during the ensuing 
campaign, his own baggage was said to bo a tootlihrush : 
nothing more — not even a clean shii-t. 

Vicksburg, not witliin his command, but in the Depart- 
ment of the Gulf, was the gi-and objective point, blocking the 
rivor, and daily gi-owrng stronger. It was a problem of very 
difficult solution : the greater honor to him who should work 
it out. 



KETROSPECT OF OrERATIONS ON THE RIVER. 

To preserve the chronological order, let us state, very 
briefly, what had been already attempted in the Department 
of the Gulf. The gi'and co-operation of the fleet needs, and 
will have, its own historian : we can only now refer to it 
briefly, to subserve our present purpose. Mempliis, notwith- 
standing Montgomery's boasts and the sui'e hopes of the 
citizens, had fallen on the Oth of June. 

On the 20th, tho gallant Brigadier-General Thomas Wil- 
liams had left Baton Eouge, and gone up to Vicksburg, with 
four regiments and eight field-guns. On tho 25th he was ofl" 
Vicksburg, and, unmolested, had begun to cut a navigable 
canal across the shaiii turn of the river, which, if sTiccessful, 
would change tho channel, and throw the city and its defences 
six miles uiland. It was apparently a light task, and with 
twelve hundred negroes, taken from the neighboring jilanta- 
tions, was rapidly carried to completion ; but alas ! when, on 



136 QRA^^T and his campaigns. 

the 22d of July, it was finished, and the small bamer knocked 
away, the waters refused the jiassage, with what seemed 
singular caprice. A simple plough-furrow had elsewhere 
fi'equeutly changed the channel in a single night, but a larger 
and more in^•itiug cut-off was now unsuccessful. So the siege, 
if it can be called one, was abandoned. Williams went back, 
Nsdthout delay, to strengthen Baton Rouge, and unhappily 
to faB there on the 5th of August ; and the rebels lost no time 
in filhng uji the canal. 

THE FLEET OF FAERAGUT. 

Farragut had steamed up on the 7th of June, the day after 
the capture of Memphis, and had silenced the Grand Gulf 
batteries on the 8tli. On the 2Stli of the same month he had 
sent seven vessels past, silencing the lower batteries, and had 
then joined Flag-Officer Davis, who had brought down some 
four gunboats and six mortar-boats from the upper fleet, on 
the 1st of July ; and Porter had again engaged the water- 
batteries below with the remainder of Farragut's fleet ; but 
after an ineffectual bombardment, the rapid falling of the river 
threatening a dearth of water for the larger boats, Farragut's 
fleet was obliged to fall do^\^l the river to New Orleans. 
• Up the Yazoo Eiver, the mouth of which is about twelve 
miles north of Yicksburg, the rebels had constructed a formi- 
dable ram, the Arkansas, which strengthened the defences 
principally by menacing the fleet. She came down the river 
to Vieksbm-g on the 15th of July, ready for any work ; and 
was soon sent down to Baton Eouge, to aid the attack of 
Breckmridge on the 5th of August, and was there desti'oyed 
by Colonel EUet's ram, the Essex. 

GRANT MOVES. 

With these few words, merely, to connect the gi'eat events 
in Grant's military history, lot us return to his own move- 
ments. We have said tliat the great objective was Ticks- 



Tin: DKIWIITMKNT OP' THK TKN'XESSER 137 

burg. The iiniiKHliuto objcotivo was the aniiy <>f rriiibcr- 
tou, wliii-h lay on tlu' Viuc of tlui Mississijipi Central Kail- 
road, ])iiii(i))ally at xVbbovillo, boliiml tlu; TalLiliatt'liie Kivcr, 
ami ill the vicinity of Holly Sprinj^'s, Mississippi. Its ad- 
vtmce was near (Irand Junction and La (Iranj^^c. 

Ou the 4th of Noveuibor, his preparations having beeu 
comi)leted, — his forces havmg been concentrated from Cor- 
inth, Jackson, and BoHvar, — Grant moved to La Grange, 
three miles east of Grand Junction, on the Memi)his and 
Charleston Ixailroad, pushing the enemy's advance back 
towards Holly Springs, and utterly neglecting, to the amaze- 
ment of the rebels, their movements to the east and south, 
■svhit-h were intended to di-aw him off in that direction. 
Grant's reconnoissances were now constant and energetic. 
Colonel A. L. Lee had first seized Ripley and Orizaba, hold- 
ing them for twenty-four hours ; and then, followed by two 
divisions under McPherson, had made a dash upon Lamar, on 
the railroad, and Hudsonville, defeatnig the rebel cavalry 
at the latter place. These and other approaches developed 
the enemy as intending to hold the line of the Tallahatchie 
River, and being in chief force in advance at Holly Springs 
and Coldwater, on the two railroads. Here Van Dorn had 
collected his forces and fortified the liver-line. But Van 
Dorn, although a brave soldier, was a weak man, and by no 
means competent to encounter and defeat the Union strategy. 
His name was not a tower of strength to the rebels, and the 
Union generals began to despise his strategy. 

But the rebel government Avas now fairly awake to the 
danger. As early as June KJth, the State archives had been 
removed from Jackson, to guard against dangers fi-om the river 
approaches ; and now, in order to make head against these for- 
midable land ajiproaches, they had overslauglu-d Van Doi*u 
and Lmell, by apjiointing as lieutenant-general John C. Pem- 
berton. a junior major-general, and sending him to command in 
and around Vicksburg. Ho was a better general than either, 
but not much, and his givat unpopidarity more than neutral- 
ized his superiority. 



138 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNa 

On the 2d of November, Lovell, who had been north of 
Holly Springs, fell back ; but he was promptly ordered for- 
ward again by Pembertou, whose troojjs were strewed along 
the railroad for facility of transportation ; — ^Price, seven miles 
below Lovell, with twelve thousand men ; and twenty-two 
miles further south, at Abbe%'ille, a conscript camp. 

Up to this time, not'n-ithstanding his successes. Grant's 
army had not received that attention and consideration from 
the Government which it deserved. This was no designed 
neglect, but the situation in Virginia absorbed the general 
interest : httle stress was laid upon the West. He had not 
been properly furnished with regular and instructed officers. 
With the aid of the few who were with him, he had every 
thing to make. His staff, selected with the rare sagacity 
which has since been more noticed in his later career, was at 
this time composed of men who were making themselves. 
Among them were — Brigadier-General J. D. Webster, the artil- 
lery hero of Pittsburg Landing, who was now superintendent 
of mihtary raih-oads ; J. A. Kawlins, then a lieutenant-colonel, 
chief of staff, since a brigadier-general and brevet major- 
general in the regular army, an able staff-officer, the constant 
companion of his fortunes ; T. S. Bowers, then captain, now 
colonel and aid-de-camp. Major F. E. Prime, of the En- 
gineers, and Lieutenant J. H. Wilson, of the Topographical 
Engineers, were the only two regular officers on that large 
staff,* and although excellent, not of the proper rank. The 
great characteristic of mihtary genius is its creative power ; 
and Grant was now attempting the most difficult movement 
kno^-n to the military art, with a thoroughly improvised army : 
the greater glory, should he succeed. 

ADMINISTRATION. 

His mihtary plans were greatly impeded by the civil and 
municipal difficulties incident to the state of war. The influx 



* Prime, we have understood, declined promotion in the volunteers. Wil 
Bon became a most efficient cavalry general. 



THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE. 139 

of negroes into liis depai-tmcnt, and tlicir nnscttlod condition, 
gave liini no little tn)ul)lo. Thoy wore not yet declared free ; 
they wt>re escaping from tlicir masters in vast crowds ; many 
were playing a doul)le part, at once fugitives and spies ; they 
were encnml)ering his army, and eating his substance. To 
remedy this, he established a camp for them, as early as No- 
vember 14,* and had them " organized into companies, and 
set to work, jiieking, ginning, and baling all cotton now out- 
standing in the fields." His orders against plundering — that 
bane of all armies — were very severe, and most vigorously car- 
ried out. An oftending regiment, the Twentieth Illinois, — which 
had broken into a store at Jackson, Tennessee, and robbed it 
of property to the value of upwards of one thousand dollars, — 
he punishedt by assessing the amount on the pay of certain 
officers, who were ini]>roperly absent, or derelict in their duty ; 
and then he mustered two of their number out of the servdce. 
The subject of triade, as injurious to military operations in 
insuiTeetionary States, engaged his serious attention, and he 
long refused to permit it to be carried on. The Jews as a 
class, principally German Jews, having given him great trouble 
in connection with this subject, ho excluded them, for some 
time, from his department. As illustrating their- gi-eat plia- 
bihty, we may state that they fell also under the rebel ban, for 
the alacrity with which, upon the surrender of Vicksbnrg, 
they " went forward and took the oath of allegiance to the 
United States."| 

Urged, at length, with great cogency of reasoning, he al- 
lowed a partial trade ; but, when asked to name persons who 
should conduct it, ho was sagacious enough to refuse, declar- 
ing that he would at once be accused of complicity, for his 
own pecuniary benefit. 

Yicksburg, upon which Grant had concentrated his 
thoughts, and which had been in the department of General 
Banks, was now placed in Grant's department, and he was in 



* Orders of that date. f Orders of November 16. 

{ Pollard, Third Year, p. Ca 



IJ^O GRANT AND fflS CAMPAIGNS. 

readiness to demonstrate upon it. To epitomize tlie value ol 
Lis success, should lie capture it, "\ve may quote the Avords of 
Shermau, in his speech at St. Louis : " The possession of 
the Mississippi is the possession of America." Yicksburg 
alone kept us from that possession. And Jeflerson Da^is, in 
his speech to the Legislature of Mississippi, on the 26th of 
December, declared that the fall of Vicksburg would " cut off 
their communication with the Trans-Mississippi department, 
and sever the western portion of the Confederacy fi'om the 
eastern." The gi-eat hope of the rebels, after theu' defeat at 
Island No. 10, was centred in Vicksburg and Memphis ; and 
when the latter fell, Vicksburg was their best bower in the 
West. As soon as the demonstration of General Williams 
upon the city had failed, they had gone to work with great 
vigor to render it impregnable, strengthening the garrison 
and fortifying every available point with heavy earthworks. 

As a strong outwork to Vicksburg, on the 25th of Novem- 
ber they had also fortified Port Hudson, on the left bank, 
twenty-five mOcs above Baton Eouge, and the terminus of the 
Chnton Raih-oad. This inclosed a long stretch of the river, 
fi-ee fi'om our gunboats, through which stores and troops 
might pass, and giving free communication with the rich pro- 
ductions of Texas, upon which they depended as a store- 
house. The eyes of the country, and of military men thi'ough- 
out the world, were now turned with great interest ujion Grant. 
Moving down by the railroads which met at Grenada, it was 
evident that the first line which the rebels would oppose to 
his advance, was that of the Tallahatchie and its parallel 
streams, upon which a small force, judiciously posted, might 
give great trouble to a large army. But the rebel generals 
were, as we have said, no match for the strategy of Grant. 

THE TxVLLAHATCHIE. 

While the maiu army was openly moving down from Grand 
Junction to Grenada, there to hold the rebel forces strongly 

in tlu'ir front, and to advance slowly, a co-operating force, 



THE DEPAHTMENT OE THE TENNESSEE. Ml 

unexpeotiMl by the rebels, wns about to rloso the TiillHhatchio 
refjjion, as by a niajj^io wand. Tliis force, seven tlionsand 
strouf^, iimler OencraU A. P. Hovey and Washburne, arrived 
at Delta, near the mouth of the Yazoo Pass, on the 28th of 
November. This was to Hank the rebels, compel them to fall 
back, clear the country for (Jrant's advance, and f,'ain un- 
disputed possession of the rich resources of Northern Missis- 
sipjn. 

C'o-o])era(iuL; with these movements, but not necessarily 
dependent upon either for success, Sherman was to move 
from Memphis, and attack tlio river defences on the north, 
between the city and Haines' Bluff. To state the plan in 
Sherman's sententious phrase : " Grant moved direct on Pem- 
berton, while I moved from Memphis, and a smaller force un- 
der General Washburne stiiick directly for Grenada ; and the 
first thing Pemberton knew, the depot of his supplies was 
almost in the gi-asp of a small cavalry force, and he fell back 
in confusion, and gave us the Tallahatchie without a battle."* 
Without space for many details, let us attempt to describe 
these allied movements, with their issues. The strateg}- was 
beautiful : had all parts of the stupendous machine done their 
work well, Vicksbm-g would have fallen then. Simultaneous 
with Sherman's attack, would have been the appearance of 
Grant's columns east of the city, and a combined attack must 
have been successful. The conception of these movements 
was Grant's. 

This general started from Helena on the 27th of November, 
and on the 28tli was at Delta. Distributing his cavalry, that 
of Washburne proceeded to Cold Water, where it captm*ed a 
rebel camp ; then the forces moved along the Cold Water and 
Tallahatchie rivers southward, by a rapid march via Preston, 
to Gamer's station, just north of Grenada, destroying the 
railroad and bridges ; then to Charleston and Mitclu-ll's cross- 
roads, both knots of coimtiy roads ; northward still to Panola 
and Oakland, on the Memphis road, and thence to Coffeeville, 



Speech at St. Louis. 



142 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

on that to Grand Junction. The work was well and thoroughly 
done ; the enemy's rear was seriousl}* endangered ; steamboats 
and many river-craft were destroyed on the Tallahatchie ; the 
raih'oad from Memphis to Grenada broken up ; cars and loco- 
motives biu'ned and destroyed. The rebel astonishment 
turned to panic ; a precipitate retreat was aU that was left to 
Pemberton, and so he fell back to Canton, even while Hovey 
was quietly moving back to Helena, Perhaps Hovey was 
moved back too soon. 

The first act thus auspiciously performed, Grant moved for- 
ward over the intervening ground, to come, after a short 
march, upon that swept clear for his advance by Hovey, 
until he should reach Grenada. Detailed dispatches give 
the itinerary : it was rapid and vigorous. On the 29th 
of November his advance was at HoUy Springs, on the 30th 
at Waterford. He found a force of the enemy at the rail- 
road-bridge across the Tallahatchie, but they did not seri- 
ously dispute the passage. Onward stiU, the cavahy skir- 
mishing at Abbe^ille, until, on the 3d of December, his head- 
quarters were at Oxford, with his cavah-y well in advance, 
dri^'ing Yau Dorn out of Water YaUey and Cofieeville, on the 
railroad. A glance at the map will at once display the value 
of Hovey's march, at this junctui'e, in preparing the way for 
the main army. To add to the rebel misfortimes, it was now 
learned that the United States gunboats were in the Yazoo, 
and steaming up to take them in rear, and perhaps cut off 
then- retreat. One of our gunboats, the Caii-o, was exploded 
by a rebel torpetlo. 

Never did human hopes have a brighter prospect; never 
had skilful combinations been more beautifully successful. 
Grant is on the gi-and march to Jackson, Mississippi ; and 
then, but one " side stt-p to the right," and he would be at 
Yicksburg, Avhere Sherman was about to make a grand diver- 
sion by the Mississippi and the Yazoo, Grant had loft small 
but adequate garrisons at all the principal points in his rear : 
among them were Columbus, Humboldt, Trenton, Jackson, 
BoUvar, Corintli, Holly Springs, Cold Water, Davis's Mills, 



TIIK DKPAIir.MKXT OF THE TPLNNESSF.r:. 143 

and MiililK'bur^. Ho hud ucj^loctcd no procjiutiuu, .'ind now 
he was about to gi'asp tho glittering prize, when suddenly, in 
a moment, tho prospect was blasted, tho entire movement de- 
feated, and a tlisastor which he could not anticipate was to fall 
upon his advance, and Sherman's gallant, but unaided attack. 
As a lesson to all military men who may fall into isolated 
command, it is valuable ; otherwise, it was an unalloyed dis- 
aster. 

MURrny's surrender of holly springs. 

The story is a very brief one. As soon as Van Dora was 
assiu'cd of the rctiu-n of Hovey's expedition, he took heart, 
and determined to attack some of the garrisoned posts in 
Grant's rear ; to destroy the railroad-bridges all along fi'om 
Columbus to Corinth ; and thus to force him to abandon or 
postpone his grand movement. In a mihtaiy point of ■siew, 
Van Dorn deserves credit for this plan, which, aided by the 
disgi-aceful conduct of one man, was entirely successful. 
That man was Colonel R. C. Murphy, who had been intnisted 
with the command of H0II3' Springs, and who, upon being 
siUTOunded by rebel cavalry, surrendered his post without 
striking a single blow, on the 20th of December, while Grant 
was at Oxford, thirty miles away. Murphy had taken no pre- 
cautions, although he know what threatened, and had left the 
garrison in ignorance of all danger. It is difficult to under- 
stand his apparent unconcern at the vast issues which de- 
pended upon his hokling out until he had not a man left. 
But we need not stop to morahze : he gave up tho post, with 
vast quantities of ammimition, quartermaster, commissary, 
and medical stores, and one thousand bales of cotton. Tho 
blow fell like a stroke of hghtning. Grant's commmiications 
were cut, the vast plans and preparations rendered useless, 
and the siege of Vicksburg indelinitely postponed. Grant fell 
back to Holly Springs. 

Other attacks tho rebels had made, at Coldwater, Da- 
vis's Mills, and Middleburg, which were bravely repulsed. 
Muiiihy was disgraced and chsmLssed, and all that Grant 



114 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

could do was to plan again, and hope for better aid in tlie 
future.* 

This failure, lamentable in itself, was the more to be re- 
gretted because, in the summer, only a short time before, 
Tope had been signally defeated at Centreville on the 28th of 
August, at Manassas on the 30th, and at Chantilly on the 1st 
of September ; and because the battle of Antietam was not a 
compensating victory. The battle of Perryville, on the 8th of 
October, was not to our advantage ; and the chapter of dis- 
asters or barren victories was crowned •s\ith hoiTors by the 
wholesale slaughters of Fredericksburg, on the 13th of De- 
cember. 

But whoever might despair. Grant did not. Every one who 
has read his history thus far must have been strack with his 
singular tenacity of purpose. Not a day was lost m irresolu- 
tion ; preparations were at once made ior putting a new plan 
into execution. 

SHEEMAN's EXPEDmON, 

The leading facts are these : On the 7th of December, 
while at Oxford, Mississippi, General Grant received orders 
fi'om General Halleck to send an exiDcdition against Yicks- 
burg. General Sherman was selected for the command ; t and 

* The raiders of Forrest, in Grant's rear, were finally dispersed by General 
Sweeny. 

f The following is General Grant's order to Sherman : 

Headquarters, TniKTEEXTH Army Corps, 
Department UK THE Tennessee, (\\ti.rd, Miss.. ]>tc. S, 18t52. 
Major-Generai. W. T. SnEUSM.VN, Commanding Right Wing : 

GENEKAii — You will proceed with as little delay as {xjssible to Memphis, 
Tenn., taking with you one division of your present command. On your arrival 
at Merajihis, you will assume command of all the troops there, and that p)rtion 
of General Curtis's forces at present east of the Mississippi River, and organize 
them into brigades and divisions in your own way. As soon as possible, move 
with them down the river, to the vicinity of Vicksburg; and, with tho co-opera- 
tion of the gunboat fleet under command of Flag-Otficer Porter, pnx'eed to the 
reduction of that place, in such nuinncr as circumstances and your own judg- 
ment may dictate. 

The amount of rations, forage, land transjwrtation, etc., necessary to take 



THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE. 145 

Morgan L. Smitli's division, then near Oxford, iiiiincdiately 
started back to M('iii])liis to form i):iit of the exi)edition. It 
was contidently l)elieved, that if Sherman moved with all pos- 
sible dispatch, lu3 would bo able, with the force at his com- 
mand, and the co-operation of the nav}', und(n- Admiral Porter, 
to sur}iris(> and captiu'c Vicksburg. If he should find this 
imi)racticablo, it was almost certain that he would be able to 
take and hold Haines' Bluff, operate against the enemy's lines, 
and o]ten up to (xcneral Grant the Yazoo River as a line of 
supplies ; wliile Grant should press Pemberton in front, and 
hold him in force in the Yalabusha, until the result of Sher- 
man's attack should be known.* 

will bo left entirely with yourself. The quartermaster at St. Louis will bo in- 
structed to send you transportation for thirty thousand men. Should you still 
tlud yourself deficient, your (|uartcrniaster will be autlmrizi-d to make up the 
deficiency from sudi transjiorts as may come into the jK>rt of Memphis. 

On arriving in Mempliis. put yourself in communication with Atlmiral Porter, 
and arrange with him for his co-operation 

Inform me at tlie earliest practicable day of the time when you will embark, 
and such plans as may then be matured. I will hold the forces here in readi- 
ne5.s t<j co-f>ix*rate with you in such manner as the movements of the enemy 
may make nocessarj-. 

Leave the district of Memphis in the command of an efficient officer, and 
with a garrison of four regiments of infantry, the siege-guns, and whatever 
cavalry may be there. 

(Signed) U. S. Gr.\nt ^r:iinr-(irii.Tal, 

* The following lettor of General Sherman to Admiral Purler gives his 
views of the movement : 

IIkauquahteks KioiiT Wino, Army of the Tennesseb, 
OxFoui), Mi.ss., Dec. 8, 1862. 
REAR-ADXimAL D. D. Pouter, 

Commanding U. S. Naval Forces, Cairo, Ills. : 
The movement thus far has been eminently successful. General Grant, 
moving down directly upon the enemy's strong lines behind the Tallahatchie, 
while the Helena force apjx-ari-d unexpectedly on tlieir Hank, utterly confoundi'd 
th»>m, and they are now in full retreat, and we are at a loss where they will 
bring up. We hop«- they will halt and re-f<>nn behind the Yalabusha, with 
Grenada as their centre. If so, (ieneral (Jrant can i)res8 their front, whilst I 
am ordered to take all the symre troops from Mempliis and Helena, and proceed 
with all dispatch to Vicksburg. 

10 



146 GRANT AND HTS CA3IPAIGXS. 

On tlie 14tli of December, General Grant telegraphed to 
Sherman, in cipher, as foUows : — 

I have not had one word from Grierson since he left, and am getting 
mieasy about him. I hope General (iorman will give you no difficulty about 
returning the troops that were on tliis side of the river, and Steele to command 
them. The twenty-one thousand men you have, with twelve thousand from 
Helena, will make a good force. The enemy are as yet in the Talabusha. I 
am pushing down on them slowly, but so as to keep up the impression of a 
continuous move. I feel particularly anxious to have the Helena cavalry on 
this side of the river — if not now, at least after you start. If Gorman v»ill send 
them, instruct them where to go, and how to communicate with me. My head- 
quarters will probably be in CotFeeville, one week hence. In the mean time, I 
will be at Springdale. It would be well if you could have two or three small 
boats, suitable for navigating the Yazoo. It may become necessary for me to 
look to that base for supplies before we get through. 

(Signed) U. S. GiLun", Major-Qeneral. 

And here let ns pause to give a brief sketch of Sherman's 
fortunes, in the campaign which reached such an untimely 
end. 



Time now is the great object. We must not give time for new combina- 
tiODB. I know you will promptly co-operate. It will not be necessary to en- 
gage their Vicksburg batteries until I have broken all their inland commu- 
nication ; then Vicksburg must be attacked by land and water. In this I will 
defer much to you. 

My purpose will be to cut the road to Mimroe, La., to Jackson, Miss., and 
then appear up the Yazoo, threatening the Mississippi Cvntral road where it 
crosses the Big Black. 

These movements will disconcert the enemy, and throw them on to Me- 
ridian, especially as General Grant presses them in front. All this should be 
done before the winter rains make General Grant's road impassable. I will 
leave for Memphis to-morrow, Tuesday night, and will reach Memjihis with 
one of my old di\nsions Friday night. We ought to leave Memphis before the 
20th, and I do earnestly desire you should meet me there. At all events, even 
if the larger gunboats cannot i)roceed at once, send those of light draught down, 
with Captains Phelps, Gwinn, Shirk, or some officer to assist me in the prelimi- 
nary work. Of course, Vicksburg cannot be reduced till you arrive with the 
large gunlxrats. 

General (irant's purjiose is to take full advantage of the effects of this Talla- 
hatchie SUCti ss. 

I am, with great respect, 
(Signed) W. T. Sherman, Major-Gcneral commanding. 



THE DKPAirrMKNT OF THK TKNNESSEE. 117 

Sliorman's ox])<(liti()ii to Vicksbui;^, like all the actions of 
tli.it l)iilli.iMt <^fi'nfral, was c.-ircfully pn-pan;*!, wi'll-tiuicd, iiTid 
julinirjibly condiiftiMl. With only a f^'cneral knowlud^o (^f tlio 
gi'ound upon which he was to attack, ho embarked his troops 
at ^Ii>ni])liis and Hclona, and on the 21st of DcctnihtM-, the; day 
after tho surrender of Holly Sprinj^s, but in unhappy i^jo- 
rauce of that fact, his fleet of sixty transports, convoyed by 
Admiral Porter, with three f^unboats, rendezvoused at Friar's 
Point. His army, called tho " Ei^dit Win^ of the Army of 
the Tennessee," was composed of four divisions, under Gen- 
erals G. W. Morj^'an, M. L. Smith, A. J. Smith, and Frederick 
Steele. Steele's division had four brigades, under Blair, 
Thayer, C. S. Hovey, and Hasseudurbel. The other three 
divisions were of three brigades each. The men were the 
flower of the West. In an admirable order, issued December 
18th, he had forbidden all citizens, traders, and women to 
accompany it, and allowed no cotton to bo shipped, except 
what was neeileil for bulk-heads and protection. If any 
citizen should elude the order, ho was to be conscripted as 
a private, or turned over as a deck-hand. We call attention 
to this order as indicative of the care with which his move- 
ment was conducted. Landing a detachment under M. L. 
Smith, at ^Milliken's Bend, he sent it to Delhi and Dallas, to 
cut the rebel communication by the Vicksburg and Shreve- 
port Railroad, after which they were to join him. 

On the 27th, the main body proceeded up the Yazoo, and 
debarked at and above Johnston's Landing, at various points 
fi-om the junction of the Old River with the Yazoo to John- 
ston's Farm, about eight miles fi'om Vicksburg. 

The long line of Bluil ujion which Vicksburg is sitnated 
touches the Yazoo at Haines' BlufT, and incloses, between that 
river and the bend of the Mississijjpi, a field of most ditlicult 
topography, intersected with l)ayous, and commanded by a 
succession of redoubts, hues of rilK'-pits, and field-batteries, 
protected by abatis, on the blufls and on the plain at their 
base. In fi-ont of all this, the Chicka.saw bayou, coming east- 
ward from the Y'azoo, turns southward t(j flow as a deep 



148 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

and wide wet ditch to tlie entire foi-tification, prolonged to 
the northward by the Cypress Lake slough. 

The Confederate positions, from Haines' Bluff to Yicksburg, 
were exceedingly strong by uatui-e, and doubly foi-tified by 
mihtary skill. The rebel troops, who had been in Grant's 
front, now that he had fallen back, mshed to Yicksburg, full 
of hope, to orei-power Sherman. It is not within our scope 
to give a detailed account of this action ; we can only give its 
outHues. In landing, the forces were thus disposed : A. J. 
Smith on the right ; M. L. Smith, the right centre ; Morgan, the 
left centre ; and Steele, the left. Steele's first landing, on the 
28th, was above the slough, while Morgan had moved south 
of Chickasaw bayou, into the re-entering angle. 

Steele was withdra-vsTi, on account of the difficulties en- 
countered in crossing the slough, and re-embarked, to land 
south of the Chickasaw, on the left of Morgan. Blair's bri- 
gade, which, in the temporary absence of M. L. Smith, had 
occupied the right centre, was now marched to join Steele on 
the left. The brigades of Thayer and Blaii' then advanced to 
the assault across the bridges, with the most distinguished 
bravery. They stormed the rifle-pits, entered the rebel line, 
dri^•ing them back in confusion. But they were largely re- 
enforced, while there were unaccountable delays in the move- 
ment of our troops. Morgan's division was not brought over 
in time to engage in the assault. 

The movements of attack on the centre and right were 
greatly impeded by the difficidty of bridging the bayou, and 
were therefore very feeble. The attack on the left, which 
was extremely gallant, was made by only three thousand men, 
eight hundi-ed of whom were put hors de comhat. Sherman, 
ardent and impetuous, was very angiy at this " lame and 
impotent conclusion," but he was also philosophical. Under 
the protection of a flag of tmce, on the 31st, he bui'ied his 
dead and canied off his wounded. 

One more effort he thought to make ; it was, to try a com- 
bined land and naval attack upon Haines' Bluff, turn the rebel 
right, and roll back his line or endanger his roar. This new 



THE DKrAHTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE. 149 

]>lan lie was ready to jmt into I'xcciition on tin* lat of January, 
when a donse fo^ made it iuiprai-ticaltle : when it lifted, the 
rebels were prepared for him. Ballled, but not humiliated, 
he re-embarked his command and dix)pped down the Yazoo, 
havinpj lost in his assault, one hiuidred and ninety-one killed, 
nine hundred and eighty- two woimded, and seven humlred 
and fifty-six missing. 

At the mouth of the river he found General MeClemand, 
waiting, as his sc^iior, to take command, who ordered the 
transports up to Milliken's Bend. " The right wing" was 
merged into the " Ai'my of the Mississippi," of which Sher- 
man commanded one cor|3S and Morgan the other, and the 
last act of the campaign was over. Sherman gi-acefiilly 
acknowledges the defeat in his order and report, and in his 
recent speech at St. Louis, but the world now knows, what it 
did not then, that he was " on time," and was the victim of 
unavoidable circumstances, and that his repulse was no less 
a consequence of Murphy's surrender of Holly Springs, than 
was Grant's falling back to that point ; not because Grant 
could not co-operate, but because his retrograde movement 
enabled the rebels to send large re-enforcements to Vicks- 
bm-g. 

Of course, Pemberton was proud of the Confederate suc- 
cess, and he had a right to be. Following his impotence on 
the Tallahatchie, it was a gi-eat consolation — the last gleam 
of success which was to iiTadiate his path : let him make 
much of it. 

ai;kansas rosT. 

Before MeClemand had taken command, General Sherman 
and Admiral Porter had discussed the propriety of an attack 
on Ai-kansas Post, and had decided, for numerous reasons, 
to make it. The proposition was Sherman's ; but ^MeClemand 
concurred in it. They went up the W'hiti> River from the 
Mississippi, and thence by a connecting canal into the Arkan- 
sas. All the gunboats that could get into the canal were 



150 GRA>'T AOT) HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

sent forward, until they reached Fort Hmdman, at the old 
post of Ai-kansas, on the left bank of the river. Tlie joint 
attack by the army and navj- could not be resisted ; the firing 
began at noon on the 11th, and lasted until four o'clock, when 
a white flag gave token of suiTender. Our loss was about six 
hundred ; that of the rebels only one hundred and fifty. We 
destroyed the fort. The navy sent up and captured Des Arc 
and Duvals, while McClemand withdrew his forces to Napo- 
leon. 

Grant had come up the White Kiver to meet Porter at the 
cutaway, and prepare for his new campaign. We have 
noticed the capture of Fort Hindman, on account of its bear- 
ing on the general plan. It was very opportune ; it tended 
to inspirit the men, and in some sort retrieve the repulse of 
Haines' Bluff : it was doing something with troops, who would 
otherwise have lain idle, while Grant was moving his army 
to Memphis ; and it changed the discord of defeat, in the ears 
of an impressible public, into the harmonious notes of a vic- 
tory. It was also another rebel discomfiture. Otherwise it 
amounted to very little. 

KEW ORGANIZATION INTO ARMY CORPS. 

Grant had been steadily gaining gi'oimd in tlie confidence 
of the Government, and the gi-eat importance of his plans in 
Mississippi caused them to send him a larger number of 
troops, requiring a new organization. These, in accordance 
■with historic experience, he disposed into anmj corpfi, instead 
of numerous distinct divisions. The advantage of this system 
is manifest. It gives to competent generals, commanding 
corps, a larger fi(4d in which to display their powers, and it 
relieves the commander of great official drudgery — all the 
division reports, etc., being settled at the corps headquarters, 
while only a digest is sent up by the corps commanders to 
the commander-in-chief. Also, on the field of war, the orders 
of the commanding general are given to corps commanders, 
and tliey are held responsible for tln^ movements and actions 



TllK DHPAUTMENT OF TilH TENNESSEK. 151 

of tilt* divisions constituting^ their c-oiiis. And still, in mldition 
to those advantages, eaeh army corjis constitut^-s an army in 
itself, ])r(>]>erly orj^anized of tho three arms, and ready for 
independent movement as sueli. Tlie system is French, and 
our brief ex})erienco iu handling large bodies of men, soon 
prompted its employment in the late war. 

On tho 22d of December, Grant issued tho following 
order : 

General Okders, No. U. 

IlEADOlAllTERa, DePARTMEST ok TIIK TETnrZflSXfc, 

Holly Spkino?, Miss., Dec. 22, lSt)2. 

By directions of the genoral-in-cLiof of the army, the troops in this depart- 
mont, including those of the Department of the Missouri operating on the Mis- 
sissippi River, are hereby divided into four army corps, as follows : 

1. The troops composing the Ninth Division, Brigadier General G. W. 
Morgan commanding ; the Tenth Divi.^ion, Brigadier-CJeneral A. J. Smith 
commanding: and all other troops oixrating on the Mississippi River belo^w 
Memphis, not included in the Fifteenth Army Corps, will constitute the Thir- 
teenth Army Corps, imder the command of Major-General John A. McCler- 
nand. 

'J. The Fifth Division, Brigadier-General Morgan L. Smith commanding ; 
the division from Helena, Arkansas, commanded by Brigudicr-General F. 
Steele: and the forces in the "District of Memphis," will constitute the Fif- 
teentli Army Corps, and be commanded by Major-General W. T. Sherman. 

3. The Sixth Division, Brigadier-General J. McArthur commanding ; the 
Seventh Division, Brigadier-General I. F.Quimby commanding ; the Eighth Di- 
vision, Brigudier-General L. F. Ross commanding ; the Second Brigade of cav- 
alry, Colonel A. L. Lee commanding ; and the troops in the "District of Co- 
lumbus," commanded by Brigadier-General Davies, and those in the " District 
of .lackson," cnmmandtd by Brigadier-General Sullivan, will constitute the 
Sixteenth Aniiy Corps, and be commanded by Major-(tt'neral S. A. Hnrlbut. 

4. The First Division, Brigadier-General J. W. Denver commanding ; the 
Third Division. Brigadier-General John A. Logan commanding: the Fourth 
Division, Brigadier-General J. G. Lauman commanding ; the First Brigade of 
cavalry. Colonel B. H. Qrierson commanding : and the forces in the " District 
of Corinth,'' commanded by Brigadier-General G. M. Dodge, will constitute tho 
Seventeenth Army Corps, and be commanded by Major-General J. B. McPherson. 

District commanders will send consolidated returns of their forces to these 
headquarters, as well as to army cor|>9 headquarters, and will, for tho present, 
receive orders from department head(iuarters. 

By order of 

Major-Oener.\l U. S. Graxt. 
Joiix A. Rawlix?, a. a. G. 



252 GRANT ASD HIS CAilPAlGNS. 

THE president's PROCLAMATION, AND THE USE OF COLORED 

TROOPS. 

No history of the war, and no biography of any one of its 
chief actors, would be complete without reference to a State 
paper of greater significance than any other issued during the 
period of hostilities. Indeed, it may well be doubted whether 
any public document ever issued in America had more im- 
portant bearings than this. We refer to the President's 
Emancipation Proclamation, On the 22d of September, 1862, 
he had declared, by proclamation, that on the 1st day of Jan- 
uary, 1863, all persons held as slaves within the States, the 
people of which were in rebeUion, should be thereafter free. 
On the 1st day of January he had ratified that assertion by 
formal jDroclamation, enumerating the States and portions of 
States in which it should take effect. 

This was the signal for new political controversies, and 
many of our high officers in the army were inclined to fight 
against it. 

We need do no more than to declare, as we have done be- 
fore, that this was a logical sequence for which we should 
have been prepared, and against which the rebels had not the 
shadow of a right to complain. The recniiting of negi-o regi- 
ments was also a bugbear to many people, though not a single 
valid argument can be brought against it. Disloyal sheets 
fulminated the fallacious argumenta of the schools, ad pojmlum, 
ad verecnndiam, and the like, and the swords of certain gener- 
als relaxed in theii* givasp ; they halted on the negro question. 
Grant, no pohtician, but a straightfoi-^ard, manly soldier, was 
instant and earnest in his obedience. " It is expected," he 
wrote in orders, " that all commanders will especially exert 
themselves in can-ying out the policy of the Administration, 
not only in organizing colored troops, and rendering them 
efficient, but also in removing prejudice against them." As 
the servant of a gi-eat repubUc, he left to the departments 
of Government theii' specific duties, while he performed his 
own. 



/ 



THE NEW MOVEMENT TOWARDS VICKSBURO. 153 



CILVPTEK Xin. 

THE NEW JIOVEMENT TOWARDS VICKSBURO. 

Routes pnoposED.— Williams' canal.— Why it failed.— Milliken's Bend.— Lakk 
Providence. -The Yazoo Pass.— Steele's Batou.— Porter's enerot.— Tan- 
gled coi-NTKY.— What next?— To New Carthage, and beyond.- Passino 

THE BATTERIES. — FiRST BOATS. — SHEETS OF FIKE.— SECOND LOT.— HaRD TqIES. — 

Across to Bkuinsbcbo.- Battle of Port Gibson.- Enemy routed. 

Stung by the failure of bis plans, and spurred onward by 
an irrepressible spirit and unyielding will, Grant now deter- 
mined to take Vicksburg at every hazard, and at any cost. 
In the perusal of the following history, it is curious to see his 
difficulties, his expedients ; how, like a hme-hound on its 
track, he essayed many approaches, imtil at last he found the 
true one, or rather, burst through barriers of fire to reach it. 

His plan was to move upon Yicksburg from the interior ; but 
how to get a base by which he might do so was the question. 
The principal routes proposed, and, to a certain extent, prose- 
cuted, were the following : first, WiUiams' canal, or cut-oflF ; 
second, the route from MilHken's Bend ; third, Lake Pro'S'i- 
dcnce ; fourth, the Yazoo Pass ; and tifth, Steele's Bayou. 
Let us consider these in their order. 

WILLIAMS' CANAL. 

This cut-off had been located across the peninsula, at right 
angles, about six miles below Vicksburg. It was ab<-)ut one 
mile across ; and, if it could be made effective, it \v<»iiM isolate 
Vicksburg, and make a channel for transporting troops and 
suppUes to the new base south of the city, without exposure 



154 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

to the batteries of the citj. It has abeadj been stated that 
the location was faulty, beginning in an eddy above, and de- 
bouching opposite the Big bayou and race-course, exposed to 
an enfilading fire fi-om the lower batteries. 

Immediately after the afl'au* of Ai'kansas Post, Me demand 
had been ordered do-^Ti to Young's Point, and McAi-thur's 
division was there on the 20th of January ; and that was the 
destination of the entire Ai-my of the Tennessee, less the gar- 
risons of the towns in rear and Logan's dirision. A very 
large naral force, under Admiral Porter, had also rendez- 
voused there. On the 2d of February, Grant came down to 
Young's Point in person, and superintended the work on the 
canal. It was prosecuted with great vigor. The camps of the 
army were on the west side, and' the earth was thrown up on 
that side, to form a sort of levee for theii* protection. The 
river was rising rajjidly ; but, while it promised a speedy 
opening, it also threatened danger to the embankments. In- 
deed it was with difficult}- that the fast gathering waters could 
be kept out of the canal and the camps. It was now the 8th 
of March, and, between hope and fear, the former predomi- 
nating, they were toiling on, when suddenly the gi*eat river 
asserted its strength ; tlie mouth of the cut-ofi' gave way with 
a grand burst ; the waters swept through and swept over, 
carrying away implements and dykes, and flooding the camps, 
to the extreme discomfort and great danger of the men. The 
soldiers, seizing their tents and equipments, rushed for the 
levee : all that part of the peninsula south of the railroad was 
under water. The first step in the new plan was a failure, and 
the rebels laughed loud and long at our discomfiture. 

Grant was not for a moment disturbed ; he had not de- 
pended solely upon this : he had other projects for untying 
the Gordian knot, and was ready in default of all these to cut 
it with his sword. His army was large, and, in spite of ma- 
lignant reports, liealtliy and in good spii'its. 



THE NEW miivemp:nt towajjds vicKsurud. \r,r) 

MnJ^TKEN's BEXD. 

The enrriucors had n])()rte(I to him a practicable route 
thiouj^'h the bayous which rmi from near MiHikoirs Bend, on 
the north, and Now Cartha{:,'e, on the south, tlirouf^'h llounchi- 
bout bayou into tlio Tensas Eivcr. This also was tri(>d : 
dredge-boats were sent forward to clear a passage, and a small 
sti»aint>r, with a few barges, was ]iassing through, wlic^n the 
suddi'n fall of the river, commencing about the midtUo of 
April, put an end to this scheme. 

LAKE rROVIDENCE. 

"VMiile still at work on Williams' cut-off, and as an alterna- 
tive or an additional route. Lake Providence had engaged 
Grant's attention, and he had put a large force to work upon 
it. This lake, situated seventy-five miles fi-om Vicksburg, and 
just south of the Ai'kansas State line, is only one mile west of 
the Mississippi : through this short strip a canal was cut. The 
lake is six miles long, and is connected by Bayou Baxter with 
]3avou Macon, a water-channel which opens into the Tensas, 
and by the AVashita and lied rivers into the Mississippi. The 
route was long and difficult, and the most that could be hoped 
from it was a means of communication with Banks at Port 
Hudson. This project served to employ the troops, but it 
was soon abandoned. 

THE y.VZOO PASS. 

This route promised more than the others, and was most 
vigorously attempted. Yazoo Pass, eight miles below Helena, 
is a narrow, tortuous channel, ninning eastward fi'om the 
Mississippi into Moon Lake, whence it again issues eastward, 
with a very snake-like course, until it empties into the Cold- 
water liivtr, which, at some distance below, emi)ties into the 
Tallahatchie. It was known that on both the Coldwater and 
Tallahatchie rivers the rebels were building gunboats and 



156 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

other craft. At high-water, the Tallahatchie is navigable to 
Wyatt, far above the mouth of the Coklwater. Grant's plan 
was to get into the Coldwater with his hght-draught boats, and 
destroy these vessels ; and, finding the route more practicable 
than had been anticipated, he hoped the gunboats would then 
run down into the Yazoo, and co-operate with a land force in 
a new assault on Haines' Bluff. His plan was defeated by 
" the magnificent distances," and the difficulties of the route. 
Two heavy gunboats, one ram, six hght-di-aught gimboats, and 
eighteen transports were made ready ; and McPherson, with 
the Seventeenth Corps, and two divisions, one fi'om the Thir- 
teenth and one from the Fifteenth, was in readiness to em- 
bark, when the number of transports was found to be inade- 
quate. Only one division could be taken ; and while we were 
moving painfully and slowly with these troops, the rebels, in- 
formed of our projects, were as busy as bees blocking the 
rivers below, the principal fortifications being just above 
Greenwood, where the Tallahatchie and the Yalabusha unite 
to form the Yazoo. 

One division of McClemand's Corps (Thirteenth), with the 
Twelfth and Seventeenth regiments Missoiui volunteers fi'om 
Sherman, as shari^-shooters, formed the advance of the expe- 
dition, under General Eoss. With great labor, and after tho 
partial disabling of many of the boats, they succeeded in 
reaching the Coldwater on the 2d of March. From that point 
to Fort Pemberton the navigation was much easier, and not 
much opposed by the enemy. But the fort itself was well 
posted for defence. Within the angle of junction of the 
rivers, it was protected by them ; and in its fi'ont, which ex- 
tended entirely across, from river to river, the overflowed 
gi-ounds formed a serious obstacle to attack by a land force. 
This being at once manifest, the gunboats were dii'ccted to 
endeavor to silence the guns ; but, after a grand effort, they 
were imable to do so. "\Mieu Quimby, with one division of 
McPhcrson's corps, came up to re-enforce Ross, on the 'ilst of 
March, and, as senior, to assume command, he found our 
troops on their return, near Fort Pemberton ; and, by order. 



THE NKW MOVEMENT TOWARDS VICKSHriKJ. l.-;7 

witlulrow the whole force, arriving at Millikcii's Bond on the 
23a of March. 

STEELE S BAYOU. 

Nothing could exceed the energy of Porter and his fleet at 
this juncture ; and no event of the campaign more strikingly 
illustrates this than the rcconnoissanco from the Yazoo be- 
low, through Steele's Bayou. Without the aid of a diagram, 
it is almost impossible to describe its tortuous course. The 
boats were to proceed up the Yazoo seven miles, to C^i^ress 
bayou, — a short opening into Steele's Bayou, — which, after a 
course of thirty miles, connects, by a short canal called the 
Little Black Fork, with Deer Creek. After na^^gating that 
stream for eighteen miles, there is a connection by the Boil- 
ing Fork with the Simflower River, ten miles distant. This 
latter stream, after a flow of forty-one miles, empties into the 
Yazoo, not far above Haines' Blufl', and sixty miles fi-om its 
mouth. This was a difficult, roundabout, biit promising route, 
nangable throughout for the iron-clads ; and it would tlauk 
Greenwood, threaten the rear of those who were there hold- 
ing our troops and boats at a " dead-lock," and turn the flank 
of the rebel defences at Haines' Blufl". General Grant ac- 
companied Porter on a part of this reconnoissance, and was a 
witness to its immense dilliculties. The country was a wild 
and tangled thicket ; the na\-igation was impeded by over- 
hanging and interlacing trees, often wedging in the advance 
boats, and jamming those in rear ; smoke-stacks and upper 
gear were swept away. Dark nights, reaHzing the " palpable 
obscure," added to the danger and difficulty, and would have 
discouraged less unconquerable hearts than those of oui* gal- 
lant navy, -sVhose spirits seemed to rise as the obstacles accu- 
mulated and increased. General Grant hastened back to 
Young's Point, to send uj> a i)ioneer force, and one division of 
Shermans cor{is, across from Eagle Bend, to clear the way. 
But the diflicidty before encountered ^^"as here again met. 
While our forces were nuiking slow but sure progress, the 



158 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

rebels got wind of the movement, and were making ready for 
us, after the difficidt naAigation should have been completed. 
It was, therefore, thought best to abandon the route ; and this 
was done, when we were but a few hundred yards distant 
from the Yazoo. A quintette of failures ; what next ? 

TO NEW CARTHAGE, AND BEYOND. 

Grant now determined to occupy New Carthage, which 
could be reached by land, even at the present stage of the 
river, and thus secure a point which should protect the main 
line of his communication by water. On the 29th of March, 
McClemand was pushed forward, with the Thirteenth Corps, 
for this purpose, to be followed by the Fifteenth and Seven- 
teenth, as soon as they could get proper supplies. All went 
well imtil, upon the arrival of McClernaud's advance at 
Smith's plantation, only two miles from New Carthage, it was 
found that the levee of Bayou Yidal had broken away, and 
that New Carthage was, for the time at least, an island. 
Surely the Mississippi, with its interlacing, cu'cumjacent wa- 
ters, was a rebel sympathizer. 

The first eflbrt of Grant, in view of this new obstacle, was 
to improvise boats to transport the troops across ; but this 
was slow work, and so another route was projected : this was 
by a detour around Bayou Yidal, twelve miles further, making 
the distance traversed fi-om Milliken's Bend thii'ty-five miles. 
The roads were horrible, and besides the passage of the 
troops over these, ordnance stores and supplies must be 
taken. The task was herculean, but the will of Grant pro- 
vided a way. 

PASSING THE BATTERIES. 

And now we r(»tich one of the most remarkable and brilliant 
features of the campaign — the running of the Yicksburg bat- 
teries by the fleet, with transports and barges — the inaugura- 
tion of the great siege. The army, as we have seen, could be 



'I'lIK NKW MoVKMr.NT T(l\V.\i;i» \ K K>i;l i;<i IjjQ 

marched dowu the west bank ; but the (question was, how to 
get the transpdrts bi'low for the crossing' of th»> troops, ami 
the giuiboats to protect the hiudhi^'s. 

Ou the l()th of April, Porter was ready to make the attemj)t, 
which was to l)e entirely successful. Witii ei^'ht ^Minboats, all 
of whic-li but one were iron-clad, and fiu-thcr prot«'cti'd by hay 
and cotton, he took three transports — the Forest Queen, 
Henry Clay, and Silver Wave — laden with su])])lii's for the 
army, and their machinery protected by bales of cottcm and 
hay. The gmiboats were to move past in single file, engaging 
the enemy's batteries, if discovered, with their broadside giins; 
while the transports, on the starboard, shoidd try to slip 
through, imder cover of the smoke. It was between ten and 
eleven o'clock that night as they came around the bend, the 
Benton, Captahi Greer, leading. The embattled city slept in 
silence, apparently ignorant of the approach of the bold 
armament, which was to throw its boasted invincibility to the 
winds ; but, while it began to be beHcved on the fleet that the 
enemy were, for some ulterior pui'j)Ose, allowing us to pass un- 
molested, two sharj) and Inilliant lines of fire gave the signal, 
and, in the words of a spectator, " in an instant the whole 
length of the bliilis was ablaze with fire." Not quite imscathed 
by all these gi*and pyrotechnics, the fleet ran the gaimtlet, 
povu'ing in their liroadsides upon the city, from twenty-five 
heavy guns, charged with gi-ape and shrapnel. In an horn* 
and a quarter the batteries were passed. The Forest Queen 
was disabled by a shot through her dnim, but was towed 
below, and soon repaired. The ill-fated Henry Clay* was the 
sole victim of the achievement. Her cotton was set on fire, 
her men demoralized, and she was abandoned, a blazing 
wreck, drifting tlown the river. 

The batteries at Warrenton, below, were so intimidated by 
Porter's fire, that they scarcely responded. Here was a 
decided smile of Foiiune : the fickle goddess was evidently be- 



* A pafiscDfrer steamer of this name was burnt on the Hudson, in 1852, with 

irrt-at loss (if life. 



160 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

coming propitious. Such brilliant success prompted another 
immediate attempt. Grant ordered six more transports to be 
made ready — the Tigress, Anglo-Saxon, Cheeseman, Emj)ir6 
City, Horizonia, and Moderator, and in tow of these were 
twelve barges, laden with forage. These were rim by on the 
night of April 22. The Tigress was simk by the enemy's shot. 
In all, five of the boats were damaged, but soon repaii'ed ; and 
one-half the forage on the barges was safely landed. War, 
even when successfid, is an expensive game : this was con- 
sidered quite a satisfactory result. In both these expeditions, 
the ti-ansports were manned by eager volunteers, who re- 
sponded in gi'eat numbers to every call made for them. And 
in this connection, General Grant refers to the fact, that will- 
ing adepts, in all mechanical arts, could be found in his army, 
whenever wanted. 

Let us now retm'n to the movement of the army. The 
number of transports for a journey down the river Joeing still 
inadequate, Grant determined to move his army, by a cu'- 
cuitous route, to Hard Times, on the Louisiana shore, just 
above Grand Gulf. This would make the distance travelled 
by the troops seventy mUes fi'om MilHken's Bend. At 
this time, only the Thirteenth Corps, under MeClernand, 
had reached that point, followed by McPherson with the 
Seventeenth. 

The next step to be taken was to cross the Thirteenth Corps 
over the river in transports and barges. Then, when the navy 
should silence the batteries of Grand Gulf, MeClernand was 
to storm them. It is well that circumstances changed this 
progi-amme. Grand GuK is an exceetlingly strong post, on 
the high blufi" of the Mississippi, just south of the entrance of 
the Big Black River. Its batteries, sweeping the river, were 
arranged in tiers ; and the range of hills was lined with ride- 
pits, protected "by field-guns. 

At eight o'clock on the morumg of April 29, the fleet moved 
to the attack, while a large portion of the Thirteenth Coi-jis 
were held in readiness to land. General Grant, on a tug in 
the stream, watelied the action, and was greatly impressed 



THE MEW MOVEMENT KAVAUDS VICKSBURO. lOL 

witli tlie oxtromo f,'allantry of the navy. Tlu'y ln'ouj^'ht their 
vt'ss(>ls witliin pistol-shot of the l)attiTi('s ; and, for tivo hourH 
and thirty minutes, thoy rained shot and sluU u)i(»n them, 
reeeiviii}^ in return a hail-storni of iron and steeh Tlu; h)wer 
batti'ries were sih'uced, l)ut the upper ones were too high for 
the f^'uns on th.' l>oats ; and at the end (^f the action, it was 
doveh)ped that they were entirely too strong to be taken by a 
coup de main of the hmd forces. 

THE ADVANCE BY BRUEsSBURG. 

Once more upon the road ! Grant had leamed that 
from Biiiinsburg, on the east bank, a few miles below, there 
was a good road to Port Gibson ; and if he could reach that 
point, Grand Gulf must be evacuated. His plan, long hidden 
in his own counsels, was now manifest to the world ; and the 
world declared it audacious in the extreme. The authorities 
at Washington doul)ted its feasil>iUty : the rebels felt sure 
that he was placing himself between two fii-es. Some of his 
best officers, it is said, protested against it. Grant was true 
to his own convictions. The force which had been held in 
readiness to attack Grand Gulf, had the navy silenced its bat- 
teries, was disembarked at iTard Times, and marched down 
the river to a point below Grand GuK, opposite Bruinsburg ; 
while the navy and the transports ran the batteries and joined 
them. 

On the 30th of April, from early morning, transports, barges, 
and gunboats were all in requisition, ferrying McClernand 
across to Bruinsburg. His coi*ps then started at once, with 
three days' rations in haversack, so as to reach the highlands, 
and form line without resistance. The Seventeenth was fol- 
lowing as rapidly as possible. General Grant also crossed iu 
j)ers(Ui on the same day. The enemy should have resisted the 
ailvance, tighting in retreat ; but they did not. They were first 
met, eight miles from Bruinsburg, on the afternoon of the 1st 
of May, and driven back, l)ut, on account of tlie closing night, 

not pursued until tin- next morning. AVilh the early morning 

11 



162 GRANT AND HIS CAMP.UGNS 

of May 1st, tliej were met in force, imder Major-General 
Bowcn, about four miles fi'om Port Gibson, and tliirteen from 
Brninsburg. They were strongly posted, where two roads 
meet, — both, however, leading by detour to the right and left, 
to Port Gibson — the brigades of Green and Tracey (one 
thousand and one thousand five hundred strong respectively) 
holding their fi'ont line. Bowen at once sent for re-enforce- 
ments, which reached him during the battle. To defeat this 
rebel force, on both roads, was now the matter in hand. 



THE BATTLE OF POKT GIBSON. 

The roads upon which the rebels were posted were upon 
ridges, and there were ra^'ines and very broken country on the 
sides. It was a position in which a small force could success- 
fully resist a large one. McClemand di'sdded his force, sending 
the division of Osterhaus to attack on the left ; while on the 
right were those of Hovey, Carr, and Smith. As the action 
became serious, General Grant appeared upon the ground, 
dii'ecting and superintending the movements. The rebel 
general was aware how much depended upon a stubborn 
resistance ; while Grant was well aware that to defeat him at 
this point would force the immediate evacuation of Grand 
Gulf, and lay open the rear of Yicksburg. On our right, the 
enemy was steadily pushed back all the day ; but Osterhaus, 
on the left, experienced such a spirited resistance, that he was 
obliged to wait for re-enforeemonts. Logan's division, of 
McPherson's corps, and a portion of the Niuth Di-sasion, had 
now come up ; and Grant sent one brigade to McClernand, 
who had also been calling for re-enforcements, and one to 
Osterhaus. The result was not long doubtful. Charging with 
the bayonet, and working theii* way through the young cane, 
Osterhaus and his re-enforcements drove the rebels fi'om their 
strongest position, while our artillery played upon then- disas- 
trous retreat. The rebel losses in fi*ont of our left were, one 
hnn<lrcd and fiftv killed, three hundred wounded, and six Inm- 



THE NKW M()VKM!-LNT ToW.MJDS VICKSHIKU. KJIJ 

tlrccl prisoners. Ni<,'ht put nn end to tlio comb.-it ; iiiid our 
troops bivouiickeil iu the bri<^lit iii()onli}.;lit, while thu relxils, 
thoroughly beaten, fled across the Bayou Pierre, destroying 
the bridges in their flight towards Grand Gulf. These were 
speedily rebuilt. On the morrow, a new floating-bridge was 
erected by McPherson, and the enemy pursued on the road 
to Hawkinson's FeiTy, across the Big Black. 



1G4 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 



CH.VPTEE XIV. 

TICKSBURG: the battles, ASSAULTS, ANT) SIEGE. 

FOETITNE SMILES. — DEFENCES OF ViCKSBUKO. — GbAND GuLF OCKS. — ShERJIAN's FELNT 

ON HAnsT:s' Bluff. — Grant's grand tactics. — Battle of Kaymond. — Battle 
OF Jackson. — Jounston driven oct. — Where is Pemberton? — At CiiAiU'ioN's 
Hill. — Battle there. — Enemy demoralized. — Battle of the Bio Black. — 
In\'estment. — Fleet co-operates. — Two assaults. — Both fail. 

At lengtli, Fortune, so long a fickle goddess, had smiled 
upon Grant. Behold him now faiidy estabhshed on the east 
bank, and with Httle to impede his progress to the "high 
plateau in rear of Vicksburg," which had been his ardent 
dream ever since the siege of Corinth. It is now time to take 
a brief survey of that famous citadel, Vicksburg, the " city 
of a hundred hills," the " heroic city," was ranked by the 
rebels as the most important point next to Richmond in the 
entii'e theatre of war. In peaceful times it was noted as an 
important depot of the cotton-trade, one of the principal 
thrones of that monarch Avhich, like the Jupiter of classic 
mythology, was but to 

" Shnke liis ambrosial curls, and give the uod — 
The stauip of Fate, the sanction of a god" — 

the great Republic was to totter and fall, and even King Can- 
non was to cower in impotent silence. 

In time of war, Vicksburg was less ironically potential. 
Perhaps there is no stronger position on the Mississippi. 
This has been already indicated in the record of the earlier 
movements. Situated on one side of a very sharp bend or 
bow in the river, on a high line of bluffs, extending for fifteen 



VICKSHriMi ; HAl'ILI'.S, AJ-.vM \.\>. .\NI» SIHfrE. lf;5 

miles from Haim-s' BlufT, touching tljo Yazoo ou the north, to 
a point below Warrenton on tlie south. Its northern river 
defences are rendered most formidable by the vast trian^^h*, 
the sides of which are the Mississippi, the Yazoo, and the 
blufis, wjiich is filUnl with interlacing^ bayous, and streams 
and swainj)s. This impracticable northern frm in is swept by 
the fire of the whole line — Haines' BlufT, Dnimgoora Bluff, 
and Walnut Hills — and there is a concentrated fire upon the 
sliarp a})cx of the bend. It is no al)use of language to say, 
that on the river-front it is impregnable. Immediately after 
Now Orleans fell, it might have Ijcen taken, as we loam from 
an intercepted letter from one of Jefferson Davi<V-< family. 
But that matters little : it was not. 

On the land-side, it was scarcely less formidable at the time 
of Grant's approach. Bayou Piei-re, with its steep banks, 
formed an outer line ; then came the Big Black, with its tribu- 
taries. Big Sandy, Five-mile, Fourteen-mile, and Baker's 
creeks, — a network of exterior defences of gi*eat value to a 
skilful commander. And when the city was descried, the sur- 
rounding ridges were crowned with fortifications ; — redoubts, 
bastioued forts ; the main fort at the raih-oad entrance ; lu- 
nettes, redans, on all the prominent points ; detached batteries 
almost without number, and linos of well-constructed rifle- 
pits connecting all the parts. The profiles of the rebel forts 
and batteries were the strongest used in field-works, and of 
greater dimensions than those by which we approached them. 
It seemed that nothing but overpowering numbers, secure 
from aD danger of a succoring army, regular approaches, and 
starvation could reduce this most real of the many rebel 
Gibraltars. And yet this was the work Grant had appointed 
for himself and his army. Having found the river impracti- 
cable, he would cross all the inland lines, and reduce it. 
Surely, if he should succeed, he would l)eeome immortal !* 

* "One of the most extraordinary and andncious g^mcs that the enemy had 
yet att4>mpted in this war. . . . In darinjr, in rtrlerity of movement, and in 
the vigor and decision of its steps, it was the most remarkable of the war." — 
PM'trd. T/iird Year, pp. 4;{. 44. 



IGG GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

To defend this important point Tvas the unenviable task of 
Lieutenant-General John C. Pemberton, who was now, with a 
force of thirty odd thousand men, about to be rapidly di'iven 
into his inner works, only to leave them as a paroled prisoner. 
It has since been charged against him that he did not lay in 
proper supplies to stand a siege ; and it would appear that for 
some time he was entu-ely deceived as to Grant's movements, 
beheving that he was going to re-enforce Eosecrans, and even 
asking by telegraph whether he should not himself send troops 
to Tullahoma. But time, which makes all things even, will 
show that Pemberton, who has been made the scapegoat for 
the sins of many, did better than his ad\asers and maligners 
would have done. If Pemberton was lulled into fatal security, 
it was the fault of the Confederate Department of War ; and 
that he was not succored by a large army betokens ignorance 
and impotence, for which he certainly was not responsible. 

So, a strong foothold having been now gained, and Grand 
Gulf evacuated by the enemy, Grant made this point tempo- 
rarily a new base, abandoning Bruinsburg. He went himself, 
with a small escort of cavahy, to Grand Gulf, to direct matters, 
and he was amazed at the great natural strength of the posi- 
tion ; but it was designed to resist a river attack, and had but 
weak defences on the land side. It had been greatly damaged 
by the fire of our fleet, but the rebels, in then- hasty evacua- 
tion, had left behind them thirteen heavy guns. 

Sherman's feint on hacsEs' bluff. 

When Grant was about to make his landing at Bruinsburg, 
he had directed Sherman to make a demonstration on Haines' 
Bluft*, for the sole purpose of diverting the enemy's attention, 
and keeping a considerable number of men in his fi'ont to 
repulse his assault. Sherman's orders were received on the 
28tli of April, and the false attack was to be made simultane- 
ously with the proposed attack of Grant on Grand Giilf. 
Sherman says :'•• " Knowing full well the army could distin- 



Sherman's Speech, May 24, 1865. 



VI(KSlU'R(i: BATTLKS. ASSAULTS. AND SIEOE. 107 

miish a feint from a real attack l>y snccocding events, and as- 
sured tlio country would, in due season, n^-over from tlu- 
effect, I made the necessary orders, and embarked." 

Proceedinj; up the Yazoo, on the evening of the 2nth, he 
was at the mouth of the Chickasaw, and tlic next niominj,' the 
naval force opened upon the Muffs. Towards evening of the 
:U)tli, he dis(>ml>iirked one division in full view of the enemy, 
as if to ])repare to assault, although he knew that there was 
no road across tlie submerged field, between the river and the 
bluff The feint was eminently successful. The gunboats 
again opened with sjurit. The enemy were seen moving 
troops and artillery back and forth, evidently expecting a real 
attack. Similar demonstrations, with reconnoissances on l)oth 
sides of the Yazoo, were made the next daj- ; and on that 
evening (May 1), rapidly embarking, he di'oppcd down t(. 
Young's Point. The next day his troops were put in motion 
for Milliken's Bend, and thence to Hard Times, which he 
reached on the fith of May. 

The main portion of Grant's army having now reached 
Hawkinson's Ferry, across the Big Black, he made a short 
halt for rest, concentration, and supplies ; and for a moment 
the question was presented to his mind whether he should 
join Banks, reduce Port Hudson, and then march upon Yicks- 
Viurg with a force increased by twelve thousand men. But it 
was not a question long : this would take time, and hours 
were worth more than men. Rumors were heard in every- 
quarter that the South was rising to save Yicksburg, and that 
Beauregard, their " Little Napoleon." was coming to make 
head against Grant. The reb«l governor of Mississippi, John 
J. Pettus, under date of May 5, had issued an inflammatory- 
proclamation to the people, calling every man to anus. In 
anv event, twelve thousand additional men, a month later, 
would be fewer in reality than his present force at the present 
time; and so he wisely decided to ])ush forward, and take 
Vicksburg. 

Sherman's corps was now u]i. having reached him on the 
8th of May, and was at once marched forward to Big Sandy. 



Igg GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

Grant's design was now to secure his rear by a rapid march 
on Jackson, the destraction of its public property, which 
could aid the enemy, and the raiboad ; and then suddenly 
marching West, to come upon the devoted city. To deceive 
the enemy, he moved up the Big Black, by both banks, 
threatening a direct attack, by way of Hall's and Baldwin's 
ferries, and he even sent an expedition to within six miles of 
Wan-enton. McPherson was moved to Eocky Springs, on the 
Hall's Ferry road, and McClemand to Willow Springs. We 
held the ferries. Sherman was on the right, on both roads. 
By thus hugging the river, Grant completely deceived the 
enemy as to his real intentions, which were to push McCler- 
nand and Sherman forward to the railroad between Edward's 
Station and Bolton, while McPherson should move rapidly 
upon Kaymond and Jackson. It was on the 11th of May 
that he telegi'aphed to Washington that he should communi- 
cate with Grand Gulf no more. 

Nothing in the history of the war is more admirable than 
the grand tactics which now ensued. The general plan was 
carried out ; the details were decided by the movements of 
the enemy, and the new circumstances arising. McClernand 
was moved up to Foui'teen-mile Creek, nearest the river, 
having sent one division to Baldwin, still to deceive and 
frighten the enemy. Sherman, who was at Aubiu-n, on the 
lltli, marched up to the bridge, across that stream, on the 
Edward's Station road, on the 12th, and after spirited skir- 
mishing, and the improvising of a crossing, in Ueu of the 
bridge, which the enemy had liurnod, they crossed and en- 
camped. Grant was with Sherman at this point, seven miles 
west of Kaymond, and there heard of the success of McPher- 
son at Raymond. 

THE BATTLE OF RAYMOND. 

General McPherson, in pursuance of orders, had marched 
directly upon Eaymond, and was met, two miles south of the 
town, on Fondreu's Cre(>k, by Gregg's rebel brigade, soon 



VICKSBURG: BATTLES, ASSAULTS, AND Sli:(ilv ][)\) 

re-enforccd by that of W. H. T. Wjilkor. Logan's division 
canio up to tli(^S(> troops at ton o'clock on the 12tli of May. 
Tlio rebel infantry wcro concoalcd by tlio woods bordering tlie 
crook, and tlnir artillery, posted on an eminence, swept the 
field across which our troo])s must move. The fighting was 
severe, falling mainly to the shnre of Logan's first and second 
brigades; but in two hours ami a half it was eiidrd, by the 
retreat of the enemy, after we had sustained a loss of sixty- 
nine killed, three hundred and forty-one wounded, and thirty- 
two missing. 

"NVlion Grant received notice of the victory at Eaymond, 
Sherman was at once set in motion to join McPherson, and 
move with him upon Jackson, to which point the enemy had 
retreated. He must be beaten there, and his stores destroyed 
without delay, for intelligence has now arrived that General 
Joseph Johnston is coming with a large force to the aid of 
Pemberton, and to place Grant between two fires. 

The rebel situation is now critical, in spite of such fallacious 
promises. Pemberton, who should have fought with his 
entu-e force at Port Gibson, and who shoidd not have fought 
at Raymond, had formed an intention of fighting the gi'oat 
liattle at Edward's Station. But on the night of the 13th, 
when our troops reached Clinton, on the raili'oad, Johnston, 
who had now reached Jackson, dispatched a courier to urge 
Pemberton to attack oiu' forces, beat the detachment, and re- 
establish the communications. More easily said than done. 
Pemberton moved out iiTesolutely, stnick but a weak blow at 
Champion's Hill, and so demoralized his troops, that they 
made but a show of resistance at the crossing of the Big 
Black. 

But we are anticipating. On the 13th, McPherson struck 
the railroad at Clinton, destroying the track, and ca]itnring 
important dispatches from Pemberton to Gregg. lft> then 
moved upon Jackson. Sherman also moved to Jackson, by 
the jiarallel road from Raymond through Mississi])pi Springs. 
McClernand was held, as a general reserve, near Raymond. 

The movements of Sherman and McPherson were so timed 



170 GRANT AND fflS CAMPAIGNS. 

as that thej should attack the enemy together. On the 
morning of the 14th, tliev came up to within three miles of 
Jackson, the rain pouring in torrents, and the roads miry and 
slippery. By noon, however, it had cleared, but not before 
our troops were engaged. Before describing the battle, let us 
observe for a moment, the great care, and yot great prompti- 
tude, with which the army was manoeuvred. "When McPher- 
son and Sherman were coming into line at Jackson, McCler- 
nand was moved up to Clinton with one of his divisions ; 
another was at Mississippi Springs ; a thii'd was at Raymond ; 
a fourth, with Blau-'s diNnsion of Sherman's corjDS, was near 
New Auburn, with the wagon-train ; while McArthur, with 
one brigade of his division, also of Sherman's corps, was 
moving up to Raymond, on the Utica road. These were all 
within supporting distance, and ready for any demonstration 
of the enemy. 

THE BATTLE OF JACKSON. 

General Johnston was in command at Jackson, and must be 
beaten, and driven away before we could invest Yicksburg. 
Upon the approach of Sherman and McPherson, he came 
outside the city limits, with a large force, to resist McPher- 
son, who occupied om- left, only confi'onting Sherman with a 
small number of infantry and artillery, on our right. The 
ground over which the troops were to move was swept by the 
fire of the rebel guns, which they opened as soon as we came 
in sight. But tlieii* batteries on our right were soon sUenced 
by the fire of Sherman's gims, and a charge of Mower's 
brigade of Tuttle's di\dsion drove them to theii* rifle-pits just 
outside the city. Ignorant of the force in his front, it oc- 
curred to Sherman to send a reconnoissance, to find the left 
flank of the enemy and feel its strength. This was efiected by 
Captain Pitzmann, engineer, with the Ninety-fifth Ohio ; and 
while he was making this detour, Steele's tlivision was closed 
up. Pitzmann reported the flank weak and exposed, and 
Sherman at once moved Steele to the right, over the same 



VICKSBURO: HATTLES, ASSAULTS. AND SIEGE. 171 

PH'ohikI. while Tuttl(> -svas pushod forward on tli<^ main road. 
Tlio enemy did not wait lon;^ for onr attack, l)nt souglit safety 
in }i northward lliudit, retreatintj; towards Canton. ^lePher- 
son hail t]ioroiiL,ddy heateii him on his front, and he thought 
himself liapjiy in escaping capture. We pursued him until 
nightfall. 

Grant and the two fighting commanders, Sherman and 
McPherson, now met at the hotel near the State House, in 
Jackson, for congratulations, council, and new action. John- 
ston, indeed, was driven away, but he had urgently ordered 
Pemberton to come out, and " re-establish the communica- 
tions ;" and this. Grant had just learned, Pemberton was 
endeavoring to do. But he was too late, and all that Grant 
had to do, thanks to his rapid and skilful combinations, was 
to face to the rear, march on the dirt-roads to Edward's 
Station, and do to Pend)erton even as he had done to Joseph 
Johnston. Slun-inan was left to destroy the arsenals, public 
works, factories, l)ridges, etc., very properly including an 
extensive cotton factory which had been engaged in making 
clothing for the Confederate army. The convicts, who had 
been released by their own authorities, fired the penitentiary ; 
and, shameful to relate, there was considerable pillage by 
some of our soldiers, who, having found some bad rum, could 
not be restrained by their officers. 

McPherson was moved out on the Clinton road, and on the 
loth was a mile and a half fi'om Bolton, within supporting 
distance of Hovey's division of McClemand's coiiis ; while 
McClemand, with the remaining divisions, was ordered to 
Edward's Station, l)ut was not to liring on a general engage- 
ment, unless he was sure of success. Blair was Avith him, and 
Sherman was soon to follow from Jackson. 

Every thing now was on the tiptoe of expectancy. Where 
was Pemberton ? at what point woidd he throw Grant ofl' his 
track, and open the communications ? 

At five o'clock on the morning of the Idth. two railroad 
employees who had pa.s.sed through Pemberton's army the 
evening before, were brought to Grant's headquarters, and 



172 GRA^'T AND HIS CAJSIPAIGNS. 

informed him that the enemy had marched out from Vicks- 
bui-g, and was coming to meet him with a force of twenty-five 
thousand men. It was Johnston's desire that he should move 
upon CHnton, but Pemberton determined to try and cut off 
Grant's supphes : but it was too late to do either. This was not 
unexpected news, but it made definite what was before vague. 
Grant should need Sherman, at least in support, sooner than 
he had thought. Without delay, at half-past five, he sent a 
dispatch to Sherman, to come up at once. Sherman received 
it at ten minutes past seven, and at eight his advance was in 
motion for Bolton. Mower's brigade was left behind to 
parole the prisoners taken, and Jackson was at once evacu- 
ated, to be cautiously reoccupied by Johnston, and again 
taken, after great events should have transpii-cd, by Sherman. 

Blaii-'s division was pushed forward towards Edward's 
Station ; McClemand and Osterhaus were dii-ected to move 
pari jmssu vrith. Blair ; McPherson was ordered up to join 
McClemand. In order to guard against all mistakes. General 
Grant sent Lieutenant-Colonel WUson, of his staff, to exi^lain 
the situation to McClemand, and to urge him to come up 
]")romptly. ^ 

These preliminaries and precautions having been arranged, 
Grant went in person to the fr'ont, and reached Bolton, on 
the raih'oad, the terminus of a short railroad line fr-om Eav- 
mond. There he found McPlierson, with tlie pioneers, re- 
building the bridge across Baker's Creek, which had been 
destroyed the niglit before by the cavalry of Osterhaus's 
division. This delay in the crossing had blocked the road 
with wagons and trains, which impeded the advance of the 
army. Grant in person ilirected the trains to draw up on 
both sides of the road, and McPherson's troops passed through 
and forward. 

THE BATTLE OF CHAMPION's HILLS, OR BAKER's CREEK. 

The position taken by the enemy lay across the road, on 
tlie left of wliit'h rose a high hill, covered bv a dense forest and 



VICKSBUH(i: HATTl.HS, ASSAUI.TS, AND SI Bill 17;^ 

undcrfj^owtli ; and on the rij^lit, the timber ('xtciidcd a sliort 
distance down the hill, and then opened into cultivated fields 
and a valley ; the slope being a gentle one on the right. The 
lirst signal of the coming battle was received by Hovey's 
division, which had moved up the road and in the wooded 
ravine, and now occupied the centre. Smith and IJlair were to 
come up on the left ; McPherson on the right. 

To oppose this gathering force, the rebel arm}-, commanded 
by Pemlierton, was strongl}' posted, their batteries l)fiug 
placed in tlio Ix-nd of tlic crot-k. Major-General W. W. 
Loring (who, previous to the rebellion, held a citizen a}ii)oint- 
ment in our army, but who had seen service in the Mounted 
RLfles, and lost his arm in Mexico) commanded their right ; 
Major-General John Bowen (a graduate of West Point, and 
an impetuous soldier), the centre ; and Brigadier-General 
Carter L. Stevenson (who had held a citizen appointment in 
the Fifth United States Infantry), the left. 

It was Grant's intention not to fight until he could hear 
definitely of McClernand's dispositions. Again he sent him an 
urgent message to push forward, before he would begin the 
battle ; but, when troops are brought in such close contact, it 
is not easy to postpone a conflict. It began, without McCler- 
nand, at eleven o'clock. Hovey's advance in the centre had 
developed the enemy's skirmish line, and when this was 
assailed, it was supported by the enemy's masses. A large 
force was massed upon our left and centre, which were weak. 
"We were there re-enforced, first by one, and then by another, 
brigade of Crocker's division. 

In the mean time, Logan's division, of McPherson's coi*ps, 
had vigorously attacked Stevenson, on the enemy's left, over- 
powered and driven him back, and threatened to pass to the 
rear and capture Pemberton's entire army, especially if the 
strong simultaneous attack could be made in front. But 
Hovey's men, out of ammunition, were found falling baik. l)y 
McPherson's re-enforcements. 

The rebel attack on our centre and left had not been Avith- 
out success, but it had been more than counterbalanced by 



17-i GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

Logan's successes on our right. Still desii-ing to beat our 
left, in accordance witli liis original purpose, Pemberton 
ordered Loriug to attack with Bowen, detaching, at the same 
time, two brigades of Bowen to re-enforce Stevenson. Loring 
refused to attack, and persisted in this refusal, when again 
urged to move to the aid of Stevenson. Stevenson, re-enforced 
by Bowen's brigades, fought well. But our fire was terrific ; 
nearly all their artillery horses were killed ; and, at five P. m., 
Stevenson's force gave way in confusion. It was in vain that 
Pemberton rode upon the field, and told him that he had sent 
for Loring. But it was too late, even had he come. His 
troops were retiring in panic ; and he had left Ridley's, Cor- 
put's, and Johnston's batteries, and a section of Waddell's, on 
the field, to fall into our hands. The battle was over. Loring, 
like one demented, drew off his men by a large cii'cuit around 
Jackson, and without artillery, and joined the troops of John- 
ston at Canton. Pemberton's army was entii'ely demoralized, 
as was plainly demonstrated in the next battle. General Tilgh- 
man, of Fort Henry fame, was killed in the retreat ; and pur- 
sued and pursuers pushed on to the Big Black. McClernand 
did not come up until the battle was over : it was fought by 
Hovey, of his corps, and Logan and Quimby, of McPherson's. 

Grant was on the field during the battle, and directed the 
pursuit, for which the troops were thus disposed : Carr, of 
McClernand's corps, on the left ; then McClernand in person : 
next him came Osterhaus. Carr moved forward with all 
speed, passing McPherson's fatigued troops, to the Big Black, 
with orders to cross it if possible. 

Sherman, informed of the result, was deflected northward to 
cross at Bridgeport, taking with him the only ponton train 
for that purpose ; and Blair was ordered to join him. 

Although routed at Baker's Creek, Pemberton was deter- 
mmed to make one more efibrt, before shutting himself up in 
Vicksburg. It was, however, a very weak one. 



VICKSBUKO: BATTLES, ASSAILTS. AM) Sli:(iE. 175 

THE BATTLE OF THE BIO lUACK. 

The pursiiit, stoppod at uightfall, was resumed with vigor 
on the luorning of the 17th. McCKnnaiul was in advance. 
It was not, however, continurd far, the enemy being discovered 
ill Uncv on Ixtth sides of the river. The opposite bank, which 
was steep, was erowned by their guns ; whih; in the ihit, culti- 
vated bottom, on this side, by which our troops were ad- 
vancing, they had arranged admirable defences. About a 
mile from the river, a bayou and overlhnved space formed a 
wet tUtch in front of theii- position, which was protected by 
riHe-pits and tield-guns. Behind these, in the natural de- 
fences thus formed, Avere posted the brigades of Green, Yille- 
pigue, and Cocki-ell. Besides the raili-oad-bridge, they had 
improvised one, just above it, from an old boat, placed at 
right angles across the stream. 

The resolute stand and excellent defences of the rebels 
promised a vigorous resistance ; but, when Lawler's brigade, 
of Carr's division, which was on our right, after a rapid artil- 
lery lire, charged to gain a better position, the enemy fled in 
terror. Panic-stricken, they fired the bridge, before their 
troojjs were across, and the garrison, with seventeen guns, 
fell into our hands. " All is lost," was the cry of those who 
succeeded in crossing. It was shamefid in the extreme. 
Pembei-ton and his staff rode most gallantly over the field, 
threatening, begging, and swearing ; but to no purpose. A 
soliber, at whom one of the stafi" presented his pistol, said, 
" Bigger guns than that, back there !" Staff authority was 
absolutely gone. 

A motley, terror-stricken crowd of fugitives, less like an 
army than like a flock of frightened sheep, poured into Yicks- 
burg at ten o'clock that night. Tlie aroused citizens, trem- 
bling and " whispering with white lips ;" women and children, 
wailing, and flying through the streets, expecting our imme- 
diate arrival ; the rumbling of guns ; the tramp and oaths of 
the troops; the confused accounts of our terrible advance, 
form a picture which no pen can describe. The avenger 



176 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

of blood was upon tlicm, and Vicksburg was no city of 
refuse. 



THE INVESTMENT. 

Sherman, who bad been sent to Bridgeport, crossed with 
the pontons on the morning of the 18th, and marched by the 
common road, driving small parties of the enemy before him, 
to within three miles and a half of the city. He then turned 
to the right, to get possession of Walnut Hills and the Yazoo 
Eiver. McPherson and McClernand built floating-bridges : 
the former crossing above the road to Jackson, and following 
Sherman ; and the latter crossing below, and marching through 
Mount Albans, and thus extending the investing lino to the 
south. 

Thus Vicksburg was at first invested— Sherman occupying 
the right of the line, McPherson the centre, and McClemand 
the left. 

Pemberton had immediately reorganized his shattered 
columns, and posted them in the defences, — Major-Geueral 
Martin L. Smith on the extreme left, confronting Sherman ; 
Major-General Forney in the centre ; and Brigadier-General 
Stevenson on the right. Bowen was held in reserve. 



THE FLEET CO-OPERATES. 

On the 18th of May, Porter hearing the firing, which 
indicated the approach of our army, came over to the Yazoo, 
to be in readiness to co-operate ; and dispatched the De Kalb, 
Choctaw, Romeo, and Forest Rose— all under the command 
of Lieutenant-Commander Breese — to open commimication 
mth Grant and Sherman. This was handsomely effected in 
three hours. The De Kalb steamed up, and took possession 
of Haines' Bluff, which the enemy had begim to evacuate the 
day before. This was a gi-eat point gained. The mere works 
taken — the armament of fourteen rifled guns, which thoy left 




f' SiEGEofVICKSBURG 

' t.'m/niiTii /or trra/i/ (Util lli.< (luiifnuins 



('lu<>l|\\nrk> 






^ 






W" 






' V. » 'f> •'! 



vsj' - .*r •'r .* ^l ^- . . a • * 




*r;**-.Vv ■, ;■. V| -y ,\\ . , vv^^>w' . 
■ '■ - •••.■'i.tS\/--.'.'-.*;?;r"Tj>«^ 



•«gsS, 




\ 











>ft-^. 







IW J B 



.^ pi* 



t«sO 



VK'KSBrUG : BATTLES. ASSAULTS, AND SIEGE. I77 

bcliiiul — were notliing : it was that a new route of supplies 
had been opened ! Since leaving Grand Gulf, our troops had 
been " livin<^ upon the country ;" now they could get full sup- 
plies from MfUipliis : wliihi tlie rebels, according to P*!niber- 
ton, had but sixty days' rations iipon wliich to sustain the siege. 
General Johnston bears another testimony to tlie value of 
this capture. On the 17th of May, he wrote to Pemljerton : 
" If Haines' BluflF be untenable, Vicksburg is of no value, and 
cannot be held. ... If it is not too late, evacuate Vicks- 
burg and its dependencies, and march to the northeast." 

THE FIRST ASSAULT. 

As soon as Grant's troops had come into position, he de- 
termined to take advantage of the demoralized and disordered 
state of the rebel army, and assault the works at once. His 
force was not sufficient to make a complete investment ; and 
he was not without concern lest Johnston, largely re-enforced 
from Bragg. sho\ild come to the succor of Pemberton. The 
oesault was ordered for two o'clock on the afternoon of the 
19Mi, and was vigorously made by Sherman's corps, which 
was nearest the enemy's works. The other coi-j^s only suc- 
ceeded in getting good positions, nearer the works, but out 
of reach of the enemy's fire. Sherman's men were moved to 
the assault at the time appointed ; Blair's di'S'ision moving on 
both sides of the road ; Tuttle's di^-ision Ln rear, covering 
and supporting the movement. The artillery was posted so 
as to have a cross-fire on the point where the road entered 
tlie enemy's intrenchments. The approach was very difficidt, 
the ground broken, and cut up in deep chasms, tilled with 
standing and fallen timber. The Thirteenth Kegidars, Eighty- 
third Indiana, and One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Illinois, 
crossed the ditcli and gained the exterior slope, but were 
unable to enter, and imder cover of the night, the attack not 
having proved successfid, they were withdrawn. Th(> men 
needed rest and rations ; they had had too much lighting and 
too little food. 

19 



178 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

THE SECOND ASSAULT. 

Impelled by the same, and additional urgent considerations, 
General Grant issued his orders on the 21st for a grand 
assault along the whole line, at ten o'clock A. m. on the 22d. 
Johnston was at Canton, with the troops which had been 
driven out of Jackson, largely re-enforced. Grant beUeved 
that by making this assault he would take Vicksbiu'g at once, 
captm-e its garrison, didve Johnston away, and save great 
expenditures of men, money, and time. 

He informed Admiral Porter of his intentions, and re- 
quested him to engage the batteries on the river-front as a 
diversion. Porter kept six mortars firing during the night 
of the 21st, on the city, and engaged the batteries on the 
morning of the 22d, from haK-past nine to haK-past eleven 
o'clock. 

The preparations for the attack were soon made. The corps 
commanders set their watches by that of General Grant, and 
at sharp ten, the storming columns were in motion. Grant 
stationed himself on a summit in McPherson's front, fi'om 
which he could see the whole of McPherson's coips, with 
portions of Sherman's and McCleniand's. With no space for 
details of the assault, we may say that it was most gallantly 
made at all points, and that the flags of each column were 
placed upon the exterior slopes of the works in their front. 

Sherman placed Blaii-'s division in fi'ont, with Tuttlc's in 
support ; while Steele was directed to make the attack half 
a mile to the right. A small number of volunteers carried 
poles and boards to cross the ditch ; and the artillery was 
posted to concentrate its fire on the position. From the 
nature of the approaches, comparatively few men could be 
used, while the enemy could bring to bear a large force, and 
a terrible fire, under which our men halted, wavered, and fled 
to cover. 

McClernand engaged in an im]-)r()in])tu and rapid corre- 
spondence with General Grant on tlie field. The burden of it 
was, loud and reiterated calls for re-enforcements and diver- 



V1CKSBUH(} : BATILKS, ASSAULTS, AND SIFME. 179 

sionary assiuilts. llo declared that li(> had takni two forts, 
aud needed assistam-e to hold them. (Jrant, whoso position 
was sueh that he eould see better tlian MeClcrnaiid, doubting 
the accuracy of his report, first diicctid him to nvenforco 
himself from his reserve divisions; but afterwards, u{)on his 
im])ortunity, sent him Quimby's division, and reluctantly 
ordereil Sherman to make a new assault in his favor, which 
increased the mortality list at least fifty per cent., and gained 
us nothing. 

To epitomize the residts of this correspondence, we may 
say that, on account of it, aud a congratulatory order of 
McClernand's to his coqjs, which reflected upon Grant and his 
dispositions, Grant relieved McClernand fi'om his command 
and gave it to Major-General Ord. It was no time to con- 
sider personal feelings ; the work must be done vigorously 
and cheerfully, without controversy, aud in the spirit of a 
willing subordination. 

But to return to the assault : like the former one, it was 
unsuccessfid ; it had been necessary to make it, in order to 
develop the strength of the garrison, the natui'e of its defences, 
and the character of the operations which must now be made. 
It was evident that a regidar siege must be undertaken, and 
to do this Grant must have re-enforcements. 



180 GRANT AND fflS CAilPAIGNS. 



CHAPTEE XV. 

TICKSBURG BESIEGED. 

Re-entokcemexts. — The complete tsvzsTUEsr. — TiiE condition or Vicksburo. — 
The first mine. — The explosion. — Effects. — We gain a lodgment. — The 

CANNONADE. — ThE SECOND MINE. — PREPARATIONS FOR FINAL ASSAULT. — PeMBER- 
TON's change OF OPINION. — FURTHER DELAY USELESS. — Is EEADT TO SCEEEXDEK. 

Of the re-enforcemcuts wliicli reached Grant, Lauman's 
division, and four regiments from Memphis, with Smith's and 
Kimball's di^dsions of the Sixteenth Corps, came up, and 
were assigned to Major-General Washbiirne. On the 11th 
of June, the division of Major-General Herron an-ived from 
the Department of the INIissouri. On the 14th, two divisions 
of the Ninth Corps came up, under command of Major-Gcn- 
cral Parke. 

Grant's army, re-enforced by these troops, was now thus 
disposed : Sherman occupied the extreme right vriih the Fif- 
teenth Corps, from the river around to the roads leading to 
the northeast bastion. Joining his left, McPherson, with the 
Seventeenth Corps, extended to the raih'oad from that j^oint. 
Ord, with the Thirteenth, continued the investment towards 
the left ; which was completed by the divisions of Lauman and 
Herron, the latter lying across Stout's bayoiT, and abutting 
against the bluli" at that point, separated by a belt of swamp 
and timber, not a mile wide, fi'om the river. 

Parke's corps, and the divisions of Smith and Kimball, 
were sent to Haines' Blufl', which had been fortified on the 
land side to resist any attempt of Johnston in that direction. 



VICKSBUUO BESIECIED. 181 

A force, uiidrr Major-General Sherman, consisting of ono 
division of the Tifteunth and one of the Seventeenth Corps, 
was also held in readiness, with Lauman's, to move upon 
Johnston as soon as circumstances should prompt. 

The a})]n-oaehes were now ct)nductcd with gi'eat vigor ; and 
as Pemberton was in no condition to waste his ammunition, 
the trenches were opened much nearer to the relji'l works than 
is usual. Thus our entire line was inclosing Vicksburg in the 
" snaky twine" of a " huge t}-phon." Along the entire front 
forts, batteries, and rifle-pits were erected ; and, by reason of 
the in-egularities of the ground, Avinding covered ways were 
constnicted, through which our men could pass to and from 
the extreme works, concealed from the rebel sharp-shooters. 

The condition of Vicksburg was now pitiable in the extreme. 
As early as the 27tli of May, a courier fi-om Pemberton to 
Johnston came voluntarily into our lines, and gave to Grant 
the message he had been directed to deliver to Johnston. It 
was this : " I have fifteen thousand men in A'icksburg, and 
rations for thirty days — one meal a day. Come to my aid 
with an army of thirty thousand men. If you cannot do this 
within ten days, you had better retreat. Ammunition is 
almost exhausted, especially percussion-caps." This gave 
token that Vicksburg must fall ; but Grant did not abate the 
vigor of the siege. 

Mines were constructed at several points, particularly in 
McPherson's front, the excavations being under guard, and 
the greatest secrecy being observed ; so that, although our 
men knew of a general intention to blow up the enemy's works, 
few knew where and when this would be done. 

General Sherman, upon the receipt of information that 
General Johnston was again approaching the Big Black with 
a large force, set out, vrith. the command already mentioned, 
to drive him back, leading Steele in temporary command of 
his division. Grant's order to General Parke, on the 27th of 
June, indicates the character of the movement : 

"Gekeual Parke — Sherman goes out fmm here with five brigades, and 
OsU'rhaus's division subject to his orders boaideti. la addition to this, another 



182 GRAls^T A^'D HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

divifiion, five thousand strong, is notified to be in readiness to move on notice 
In addition to this, I can ppare still anotlier division, six thousand strong, if 
they should be required. We want to whij) Johnston, at least fifteen miles off, 
if possible. 

" U. S. Graxt, Major-General." 

Sherman, however, returned without finding Johnston 
within the prescribed distance, but learnt that he was making 
desperate efforts to come up in time to reheve Vicksburg. 



THE FIRST MINE. 

The mine which was now to be exploded was under the par- 
apet of the works occupied bj Forney's (rebel) division. A 
series of zig-zags, covered from the enemy's fire, passed over 
the distance of three hundred yards to reach the main sap, a 
trench six feet wide and six feet deep, which was then ex- 
tended only thirty-five yards, to reach the entrance of the 
main galler}-. This gallery was a square shaft, ninning witli 
a gradual declivity under the enemy's parapet. From it di- 
verged three short galleries, to the right and left, one being 
formed in front ; these contained the chambers, in which 
a ton of powder was placed. A sap was also run ofi" to the 
left of the main gallery, for fifty yards, to hold our sharp- 
shooters. 

The enemy's attempts to countermine were only successful 
in giving our working-party one good scare, fi'om which they 
soon recovered. Mining is not an easy task ; but counter- 
mining reqiiires such accurate knowledge of an enemy's plans, 
localities, and progress, and such nice counter-calculations, as 
to render it far more difficult. 

At length all was in readiness for the first explosion. A 
messenger reached Grant, at three o'clock, on the 2oth o? 
June, announcing that they were ready to apply the match. 
All troops, except sharp-shooters, were withdrawn from the 
outer works. One hundred picked men of the Forty-fifth Illi- 
nois were to assault the right, and one hundred from tlu^ 
Twenty-third Indiana the curtain of the fort. Loggett's bri- 



vicivSuriKi i?i;sii;<ii:i). 183 

pailo formed the reserve of the stonners ; Stevenson formed 
the support, with a stronj^' reserve in rear. 

At len^^th tlie word was f^ven ; the nialch .ipidicd to the 
fuse. The few iiiiiiutcs in whidi it silmtlv l)iu-ned seemed 
hours. The troops, now fully aware of the jjurpose, stood to 
tiieir arms in breathless exju'ctaney. The stout hearts of tlie 
forlorn hope were suinuioniu^L,' uj) tlie blood and stiftcniug the 
sinews. In their shirt-sl(>eves, and divested of every thing 
save muskets and eartridge-boxes, they were ready for the 
rush. One terrific burst, and the air is filled to the height of 
one huncb-e'd feet with timbers and earth, gabions, stockades, 
gun-carriages, mingled with smoke and dust — a miniature 
Vesuvius. Six men of the Forty-third Mississippi, who are in 
a shaft countermining at the time of the explosion, arc buried 
and lost. Tins is the signal for the stormers. The two col- 
umns fly to their points of attack. Leggett's brigade moves 
to their support. But tlie rebels make desperate resistance. 
The Sixth Missouri ri>giment attempts to charge : its colonel, 
Eugene Irvin, is killed at its head. Our other supports are 
poured in ; and at length the flag of the Forty-fifth crowns 
the summit of Fort Hill, amid cheers that can be heard above 
all the varied din of the battle. 

Simultaneously with the rush of the stormers, Grant had 
ordered the batteries to open along the whok'line. The firing 
began on McPhcrson's fi'ont ; it was taken up by Ord, Lauman, 
and Herron on the left, and soon joined by Sherman. The 
ships on the river-front caught and hurled back the echoes, 
until the classic thunders of Virgil were realized over the 
whole heaven, and from pole to ]iole. The nearness of our 
batteries caused almost every shot to tell. Some shells stnjck 
the parapet, others ricochetted, and fell into the lines of troops 
bevond. It Avas the gi'andest cannonade ever heard up to 
that time in Amerii-a. 

(Jraiit wrott' at once to Ord : 

Oeneuai. Oun — McPhi'nK)n occupu-s tho rrator made by tlio ixplosion. 
Ho will hiivo f,'uns in liattory iIkt.- by morning. IL- ht\s b.-on hard at work 
nmiiing riQo-pits right, and thinks he will hold all gain-nl. Ke^p Smith'i did 



184 GRANT AND HIS CAilPAIGNS. 

non -under arms to-night, ready for an eiucrgency. Their services may be re- 
quired, particularly about daylight. There should he t/ie greatest vigilance along 
the whole line." 

He then pushed the other mines to completion, and began 
new parallels, to make ready for a final assault, which, how- 
ever, it was not necessary to make. On the fii'st of July a 
second mine was sprung on the right of the Jackson road, 
which resulted in the entire demolition of the redan, the liv- 
ing burial of nine men who were coimtermiuiug, and the kill- 
ing and wounding of a large number who were manning the 
works. The explosion left an immense chasm where the redan 
had stood. Pemberton was in no condition to sustain an 
assault : after a fair show of valor, he was open to the dic- 
tates of discretion. From the night of his disordered en- 
trance into Yicksburg, after the defeat at the crossmg of 
the Big Black, to the 3d of July, he had been in a sad and 
helpless condition. The city was constantly bombarded ; 
women and children were living in caves, at the entrance of 
which some were killed ; houses and streets were ploughed by 
shot and sheU ; provisions were scarce, and mule meat, bean 
meal, and com cofi'ee were in gi'eat demand ; the stench of 
dead animals, many of them starved to death, filled the 
air ; and the inevitable " Yankee" was inclosing him so as 
to leave no loophole of retreat. It is reported, tliat iu a 
speech made at Yicksburg, after the failure of our assault, he 
had said : 

"You have heard that I was incompetent and a traitor, and 
that it was my intention to sell Yicksburg. Follow me, and 
you will see the cost at which I will sell Yicksburg. When the 
last jpound of beef, bacon, and Jlour ; the last grain of corn ; the 
last cow, and hog, and horse, and dog shall have been consumed, 
and the last imin shall have perished in the trenches, then, and only 
then, ivill I sell Vicksburg." 

But his spirit was now gone ; he was ready to surrender. 
Ho had given up all hope of Johnston, who, whatever his dif- 
ficulties may have been, had certainly done less than nothing 
to aid him, and has since reproached him iu unmeasured, but 



VU'KSBURU BESIKdED. 185 

unjustifiable terms. The eight thousiUKl men sent by Kirby 
Smith from the Traus-Mississippi army, " had been misman- 
aged, aud had fallen baek to Delhi." His men were worn out 
by duty, exposure, and want of sleep. A small supply he still 
had, aud he mi«:jht have held the works a few days lonj^er ; but 
we say, advisedly, that he was right to .surrender. WhateVLr 
his faults, and they were gi*eat, and his misfortunes, which 
equalled them, he was now hopeless and helpless. Delay 
could do nothing but bring more suffering and loss of life. 



186 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 



CHAPTEK XVI. 

VICKSBUEG FALLS. — " UNTEXED TO THE SEA." 

Flag of truce. — Pembkkton's keqiest. — The interview. — Terms described. — 
CoRRKSPiiNDENCE.— Terms accepted. — Vicksburg surrenders. — Fourth of July. 
— Rebellion cut in two. — Only keeds shaking, to fall apart. — Grant's tri- 
umphal ENTRY. — The Mississippi " unvexed to the sea." — Comments. 

On Friday morning, the 3d of Jnly, there was an unusual 
quiet upon all the defences of Yicksburg. The day was intol- 
erably hot indeed, but more scorching suns had not heretofore 
hindered the fighting work. At eight o'clock in the morning a 
flag of truce was displayed upon the works in fi-ont of General 
A. J. Smith ; it heralded the approach of General Boweu and 
Colonel Montgomery, with a sealed communication fi'om Pem- 
berton to Grant. The long-hoped-for day had at length ar- 
rived : Pemberton proposed the surrender of the city. 

We must seek for historic analogies Avith which to picture 
to our fancy the overwhelming and unutteral)lc joy of Grant, 
wlicn he read this communication. But to all appearance he 
was imperturbable and cool ; he gave no sign of the joy he 
felt. 

The letter of General Pemberton proposed the appointment 
of commissioners, three on each side, to aiTange terms for the 
capitulation ; and he added, as a point in the bargain, that he 
was "fully able to maintain his position for an indefinite pe- 
riod." Grant's reply demanded " an unconditional surrender 
of the city and garrison," and refused the appointment of 
commissioners, " because he had no other terms" to ofi'er. 
He had ac(|uired a habit of using this phraseology. To Gen- 
eral Bowcn's request tliat he woulil meet Pemberton on neu- 



VICKSBriia FALLS. -" rNVF.XF.D TO THE SEA." 18? 

tral ground, to arraiif^o tho matter by porsonal iiit(nviow. 
Grant cons(>nto(l, and a])])ointod throe o'clock that afternoon 
as the time; hi)stiHti('s, however, continued until noon, when 
a temporary cessation was ordered, on account of tli<! inter- 
view. 

At three o'clock a si<;nal-gun from our side, responded to 
by one from the rebels, announced the approach of the gener- 
als. The int(>rview took place in front of McPher-son's lines, 
a spot untrodden by either army during the «iege. An im- 
mense oak formed a fitting canopy, and under its overspread- 
ing branches they met. General Grant was attended by Gen- 
eral McPherson and General A. J. Smith ; General Pemberton 
by General Bowen, and his adjutant-general. Colonel Mont- 
gomery. After shaking hands, and an introduction of the 
officers, the following conversation was opened by General 
Pemberton : 

" General Grant, I meet you in order to an-ange terms for 
the capitulation of the city of Vicksburg and its garrison. 
What terms do you demand ?" 

" Unconditional surrender " replied General Grant. 

"Unconditional surrender?" said Pemberton. "Never, so 
long as I have a man left me ! I will fight rather." 

" Then, sir, yon cnn continue the defence," coolly said General 
Grant. " Mi/ army his never been in a better condition for the 
jwosmdion cf the siege." * 

The appearance of the two men, on this important occasion, 
was indicative of their characters. The stormy, irascible 
spirit of Pemberton could hardly bo restrained by a sense of 
the dignity of his position ; while Grant, i)uffing his cigar, was 
calm as though engaged in a casual colloquy in a sauntering 
meeting on the road-side. 

The generals wandered off to confer privately, and .seated 
themselves upon the grass, and the intervi<-w was soon ended 
with the unch'rstanding that Pemberton would submit tht* mat- 
t r to a council of war, and s.tuI his answer in the morning. 



* From Mr. Keim's dispatch to the New York Uorald. 



188 GRANT AND fflS CAMPAIGNS. 

The oak-tree has long since disappeared, its tiiink having 
been cut up into walking-sticks and other rehcs : on the spot 
where it stood is a beautiful monument, which commemorates 
the occasion and the sui'render.* 

On his return, after a conference with his corj^s and divi- 
sion generals, Grant, taking time by the forelock, sent the fol- 
lowing letter to Pemberton the same evening : 

HeaDQUAHTERS DEPABTilENT OF TEmTESaiE, 

Neae Vicksbubo, July 8, 1863. 
Lieutexant-Gexeral J. C. Pemberton, 

Commanding Confederate Forces, Vicksburg, Miss. : 
General — In conformity with the agreement of this afternoon, I mil snb- 
mit the following proposition for the surrender of the city of Vicksburg, public 
stores, etc. On your accepting the terms proposed, I will march in one division, 
as a guard, and take possession at eight o'clock to-morrow morning. As soon 
as paroles can be made out and signed l)y the oflBcers and men, you will be al- 
lowed to march out of our lines, the officers taking with them their regimental 
clothing, and staff, field, and cavalry officers one horse each. The rank and 
file will be allowed all their clothing, but no other property. 

If these conditions are accepted, any amount of rations you may deem neces- 
sary can be taken from the stores you now have, and also the necessary cook- 
ing utensils for preparing them ; thirty wagons also, counting two two-horse 
or mule teams as one. You mil be allowed to transport such articles as can- 
not be carried along. The same conditions will be allowed to all sick and 
wounded officers and privates, as last as they become able to travel. The pa- 
roles for these latter must be signed, however, whilst officers are present author- 
ized to sign the roll of prisoners. 

I am. General, very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

U. S. Gk.ant, Major-GeneraL 



* The monument is a pyramid twenty feet high, surmounted mth a fifteen- 
inch globe. On the principal side is a large American eagle, with wide-spread 
wings, which cover implements of defence ; in one claw he holds the laurel, in 
the other an American shield, and in its beak a pennant, inscribed, " E Pluri- 
bus Uitum." The eiiLcle sustains on its wings the goddess of libeny. On one 
aide of the monument is inscribed : " To the memory of the surnnder of Vicks- 
burg by Lieutenant-General J. C. Pembert-on, to Mujor-General U. S. Grant, 
U. S. A., on the 3d of July, 1SG3." See article in August number of the United 
States Service Magazine, for 18G5, " From Cairo to the Delta." 



VICKSBURO FALI^S— "UNVEXED TO THE SEA." 189 

Pcmhorton lost no tinic^ in roturninp^ tho following answer, 
which reached Grant early in tho morning of July 4 : 

IIbadqiarteks, VicKsncno, July 8, 1S68. 
Major-CIeneual (iKANT, 

Commanding United States Forces : 
Qeixeuai, — I hnvc tlie honor to ticknowledgo tho receipt of your communi- 
cation of this date, projKieing tonns for the surrender of this garrison and jK>st 
In the main, your terras are accepted ; but in justice both to the lionor and spirit 
of my troops, manifested in the defence of Vicksburg, I have the honor to submit 
tho following amendments, which, if acceded to by you, will pt-rfcct the agree- 
ment between us. At ten o'clock to-morrow I propose to evacuate the works in 
and around Vicksburg. and to surrender the city and garrison under my com- 
mand by marching out icith my colors and arms, and stacking thttJi in front of 
my prcsint limits, aft»>r which you will take possession ; oflScers to retain their 
side-arms and personal property, and the rights and property of citizens to be 
respected. 

I am. (leneral, yours, very respectfully, 

J. C. Pemdertok, Lieutcnant-Qencral. 

Grant's answer was dictated by magnanimity ; as a soldier, 
he was willing to allow some show of respect to the officers 
and men who had borne tho horrors of the siege : it was as 
follows : 

IIkadqcarters Departmext of Te>-xessee, 
Before Vicksbcro, July 4, 1868. 

LlEtrrZXANT-GEXERAI- PE>rBERTOX, 

Commanding Force* in Vic/aburg : 
General — I have the honor to acknowh^dge your communication of the 3d 
of July. The amrndrat-nts proposed by you cannot bo acceded to in full. It 
will be nec«'ssury to furnish every officer and man with a jmrole. signed by 
himself, whicli, with the completion of the rolls of prisoners, will necessarily 
take some time. Again. I can make no stipulation with regard to the treat- 
ment of citizens and their private property. While I do not propose to cause 
any of them any undue annoyance or loss, I cannot consent to Inre myself 
under restraint by stipulations. Tlie property which oflBccrs can be allowed to 
take with them will be as stated in tho proposition of last evening — that is, 
that officers mil U aUnced their prirate baggage and side-arms, and mounted 
officers one horse eafh. If you mean by your propt>sitv>n for each brigade to 
march to the front of the lines note occupied by it, and stack thtir arms at ten 
o'clock A. M . '/'-'/ thi II nturn to the iiisid<; and remain at privmers until 



190 GRANT AND HIS CAilPMGNS. 

properly paroled, I trill make no objection to it. Sliould no modification be 
made of your acceptance of my terms by nine o'clock A. M., I shall regard 
them as having been rejected, and act accordingly. Should these terms be 
accepted, -white flags will be dis])layed along your lines to prevent such of 
my troops as may not have been notified from tiring on your men. 
I am. General, very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

U. S. Gn.VNT. 
Major-Gencral United States Army. 

These terms Pemberton at once accepted. McPlierson's 
corps was iimiiediately placed mider arms. The rebel troops 
marched out and stacked their arms, occupying three hours 
in so doing, and our troops marched in. General Grant's 
triumphal entry was in the afternoon of July 4. 



THE FOUETH OF JULY. 

We had become accustomed, in later years, and before the 
war, to sneer at Fourth of July celebrations ; " bimcombe" and 
" fustian" were the other names for the orations pronounced 
on that day ; but the events of this wonderful year were to 
consecrate it afresh in the hearts of all time patriots. The 
shouts of Grant's conquering army were echoed back fi'om 
equally sonorous voices at Gettysburg, where, after three 
days of hard fighting, in which the glorious Ai'my of the 
Potomac had utterly baffled and defeati^l " an enemy superior 
in numliers, and flushed with the pride of a successful in- 
vasion,"'^ it rested on the 4th of Jidy, to keep the nation's 
birthday. Yicksburg and Gettysburg ! names which shall 
forever stand among the decisive battles in the world's history, 
and mark the great crisis in our country's fate ; a new declara- 
tion of our independence — a seal of our perpetuity. All honor 
to the men who achieved them ! 

It is worthy to be recorded, that when Pemberton was 
asked his motives for selecting the 4th of July as the day of 
surrender, he said : " The answer is obvious ; I believed that 

* Meade's order to his troops. 



VICKSBURQ FALLS.— "UNVKXKI^ TO TIIK SEA." 101 

upon tlijit (l.iy T sliouKl obtain better trinis. Well awaro of 
tlio vanity of our iovs, I know they would attach vast inii)or- 
tanoo to tho ontrani'(\ on the -Ith of July, iuti) tlm stron^^'hoid 
of the ^'reat river, and that, to f^Miitil'y their national vanity, 
they wt>iild yield then what eoiild not i)e extorted from them 
ut any other time." We like that word vani/// ; it eould not 
be improved, except, perhaps, by terms vs^hicb can hardly 
bo considered synonymous ^ — loi/alli/, patriotism, and srlf- 
rtsp'cf. 

As to tho great importance of tho reduction of Vicksburg, 
we may refer to Sherman's recent statement, that it made the 
destniction of tho rebellion certain, and that the rebels would 
have abandoned at once a lost cause, had they not been 
blinded by passion, and lured by false syrens to a greater 
destruction. Carlyle tells a story of a fabulous Norso wamor 
who possessed an invisible sword of magic sharpness. It 
clove his enemy in two, without his feeling tho blow, and it 
was not until he shook himself that ho fell apart. Thus Grant, 
with his magic sword, had cut the gi'oat rebellion in twain, 
but it needed the shaking of a few more campaigns to demon- 
strate to the rebels, and to the world, that the fatal blow had 
been given at Vicksburg. 

CI rant entered Vicksburg in triumph on tho afternoon of 
the 4th, accompanied by Generals McPherson and Logan, 
and their stalls. He had defeated tho enemy in live battles 
outside of the city, had taken the State capital, and by tho 
captiuo of Vicksbm-g he had captured thirty-seven thousand 
prisoners, including nineteen general officers, and foiu- thou- 
sand officers of lower grades. Tho rebels had lost in battle, 
from the beginning of the campaign, upwards of ten thousand 
men, three hundred and one pieces of artillery, and thirty-fivo 
thousand small-arms ; they had also surrendered a largo 
amount of public property, consisting of railroads, locomo- 
tives, cars, steamboats, cotton, and provisions. 

But best of all, in the sententious language of Mr. Lincoln, 
the gi'cat river, which had been fretting and fuming under tho 
iron chain of the rebels, now " icenl unvtjccd to the sea" On 



192 GRANT AJfD HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

the 16th of July, the steamboat Imperial arrived at New 
Orleans from St. Louis, the first boat which had gone over 
that route for more than two years. 

On the 28th of the same month she returned to her wharf 
at St. Louis, amid the welcoming shouts of thousands. Every 
shout was a tribute to him who had opened the river, and 
sent its waters forever " unvexed to the sea." 



COMMENTS. 

In a review of this great campaign, Grant's actions shine 
so pre-eminently, that an estimate of the biographer, in the 
way of a summary, is totally unnecessary. He was active, 
versatile, tenacious of purpose, Napoleonic in his judgment 
and use of men, with moral courage to assign or remove them 
according to tlieii' merits. And, combined with all these high 
quaHties, he had exhibited remarkable skill in manoeuvring 
large armies in the field ; in learning instant lessons fi'om 
repulses ; in conducting an arduous siege ; in brushing away 
a succoring army ; — always preserving that equal mind which 
it is more difficult to keep in the extreme of prosperity than 
in that of adversity. Undisturbed by his great troubles, he 
was not pufted up by the gi-eat success, but was ready for 
new labors, and, if God shoidd send them, final successes. 

It is no injustice to others to say that his chief supporters 
were Sherman, McPherson, and Logan. Sherman, like Grant, 
has achieved such universal reputation, that we need not 
pause to eulogize him. McPherson here exhibited to the 
public those qualities which Grant had long known him to 
possess, and which were to shine with increasing lustre until 
his lamentable fall in the Georgia campaign. Logan's dash- 
ing valor was eminently conspicuous. Having declared that 
the Western men would hew their way to the Gidf, he was 
a bright example of the truth of his pretliction ; ever at his 
post, and always distinguished for that fearless impetuosity 
wliicli the world now considers his characteristic. 



VICKSnnii} FALLS.— •■ UN VEXKl) TO TIIK SLA." l<j;; 

N(yrE. — Till' skffch of tlii.H jrn'nt cam]>ai>rn would \>o incomplt'ti! witliout ii 
brief rcfiTonco to tin- unpnrullrlfd iimrch of Colonel (aft.Twanls (ii-ncral) B. H. 
(Jricrson, up to that time tin- most famous raid on r»rord. ItH object wnn, tlm 
destruction of juiblic ]iroiicrtj* and of the railnmdH. and to make a diversion in 
favor of the army moving upon Vicksburg. Griorson proiM)se»i it, and In-gan hia 
preparations on tlie Ist <if April, llis force consisted of the Sixth and Seventh 
Illinois Cavalry and the Second Iowa, commanded respectively by Colonela 
Ij<K)mis, Price, and Hatch. 

Starting from I^a (i range, he moved ujvm Hipley. Tlionce he crossed the 
Taliahatclik'. Detachments to deceive the enemy and destroy the railroads, 
were si-nt to the east, north, and even the northwest. From Pontotoc ho sent 
back one hundred and seventy-five men, the leaat valuable, and one gun, to 
La Grange. A small detachment was sent to Columbus to destroy the track ; 
and at Starksville he captured a rebel mail of great value. On the 22d he was 
at Louisville, and he crossed the Memphis Railroad at Newton. His route 
then lay through Raleigh, where he cut the telegraph wires ; across the Leaf 
River, destroying the bridge across the Pearl ; through Gallatin and to Union 
Courthouse. Thence southward, destroying as he went bridges and track. 
The rebels were now gathering on his track, to stop his return. But he had no 
idea of returning. At Oskya, where they tried to stop him, he broke them. 
Then, by Greensburgand Clinton, he rode into Baton Rouge on the 1st of May ! 
A notable ride ; in seventeen days ho had travelled eight hundred miles 
through the heart of the State ; given the people a great fright ; entirely 
deceived and eluded the armed enemy ; destroyed four millions of property ; 
and so injured the railroads, aa to make them incapable for some time of being 
used to our detriment. 

18 



194 GRANT AND HIS CAifPAIGNS. 



CHAPTEE XVn. 

FINISHING TOUCHES : CLEARING THE "^VEECK. 
Effect of tde news. — President's letter to Grant. — Port Hudson waits the 

FALL of ViOKSBHRO SuRRE.NDERS. — CORRESPONDENCE AND CONDITIONS. — SbER- 

MAN MOVES AGAINST JoUNSTON. — JoHNSTON HOLDS JaCKJSON. — HiS ORDER. — He 
DECAMPS. 

EFFECT OF THE NEWS. 

When some great fabric, long tottering to its foundations, 
and uj^on which the eves of all men have been fixed, at length 
surges and falls with a mighty crash, crowds of workmen fly 
to remove the fi'agments, to clear the wreck, and prepare for 
rebuilding. So the fall of Vicksburg, resounding through the 
country, was the signal for new labors to the heroic Grant 
and his gallant army. The news, long awaited by the nation, 
gave rise to scenes of the wildest enthusiasm. The roar of ar- 
tillery and the ringing of bells, swelled by the chorus of human 
voices, were heard from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The cry, 
" Vicksburg has fallen !" carried joy to Washington, and con- 
sternation to Eiehmond. The name of Grant was on every 
lip, and assurance was made doubly sure that, under God, we 
now had a commander upon whom the people could rely to 
lead us to final victory, and a thoroughly successful, honor- 
able, and uncompromising peace. 

He was at once appointed to the vacant major-generalship 
in the regular army, to date fi'om that day, now doubly dear to 
every time American heart — the Foiirth of July, 18G3 ; the day 
when he entered Vicksburg, the chief of American conquerors. 

While straining every nerve in the campaign, he had been 



FlNlSinN(i TorcHKS: CLEAHINC} THK WRECK. 195 

greatly misrepresented at Washington. Partisan jiolitica and 
])rivato malignity had arrayed themselves against him : to a 
cliarge of indtei'ility hadlteen added tlmt of druMkenness ; and 
it was evtMi said that Adjutant-General Tliunms, who had 
started for the Mississippi in April, had carried with him an 
order relieving (irant from the command. ]3ut now his vindi- 
cation was complete : it was Vicksburg ! We cannot pause to 
enumerate his honors. Mr. Lincoln, in the most magnani- 
mous spirit, adiU'essed him the following letter, as honorable 
to Lincoln as it was just and generous to Grant : 

ExECVTivE Mansion, WAeuiNoTON, July 13, 1868. 
To Major-Gejnerai, Qrakt: 

My Deaii Oenerajl — I do not rt-mi'mbiT that you and I ever met person- 
ally. I write this now as a grateful acknowledgment for the almost inestima- 
ble sircice yon hare done the country. I wish to say a word further. When 
you first reached the vicinity of Vicksburg, I thought you should do what you 
finally did — march the troops across the m-ck, run the hattorirs with the trans- 
ports, and thus go below ; and I never had any faith, except a general hope 
that you knew better than I, that the Yazoo Pass expedition and the like could 
succeed. When you got below and took Port Gibson, Grand Gulf, and vicinity, 
I thought you should go down the river and join General Banks ; and when you 
turned northward east of the Big Black, I feared it was a mistake. I now wish 
to make a personal acknowledgment that you were right and I was wrong. 

Yours, verj' truly, 

A. LiKCOLN. 

Congratulations and thanks poured upon him from States, 
cities, and institutions throughout the country ; and even rebel 
journals for once dropped the Billing.sgate with which it was 
their custom to describe the actions of our " Yankee" com- 
manders, to declare that he had been skilful in his work, and 
magnanimous in his dealings with the garrison. He was 
l)ointed to as the only man to conduct the new and colossal 
campaigns now opening, of which Chattanooga was to be the 
base, and from which, in logical sequence, were to follow 
Sherman's grand gallop through Georgia, his flanking move- 
ment in South and North C'aroliua, and our tijial succi'.sses at 
and beyond Petersburg. We repeat it, Vicksburg was the 
kev of the war. 



19G GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

Grant arranged affaii-s at Vicksburg by making McPberson 
district commander, and Logan post commander. The former 
general appointed Lieutenant-Colonel James Wilson district 
provost-marshal ; and the latter, Lieutenant-Colonel WaddeU 
post provost-marshal. 

PORT HUDSON. 

It has been seen that Port Hudson, in the Department of 
the Gulf, was besieged by General Banks, and held tightly 
embraced during the siege of Vicksburg ; and it was well un- 
derstood by both armies that when the latter should fall, the 
other must also surrender. Port Hudson, or Hickey's Land- 
ing, is a very strong point, on a sharp bend in the river, 
twenty-two miles above Baton Rouge. Situated on a com- 
manding blufl', it had been well fortified. Livested on the 21st 
of May by our army, it had refused to surrender, and defied a 
first assault on that day. The investing army was command- 
ed, under Banks, by Weitzel, Augur, Grover, and T. W. Sher- 
man. Another assault on the 14th of June was also unsuc- 
cessful ; and then Banks awaited the fall of Yicksburg. 

This was decisive. On the 7th of July, General Frank 
Gardner, the rebel commander, "vn-ote to Banks to ask if 
Vicksbiu-g had surrendered ; and if so, to propose an armistice 
for the surrender of Port Hudson. Ou the 8th, Banks replied, 
sending him Grant's letter announcing the fall of Vickslnirg ; 
and the same day Gardner gave up the works, surrendering 
five thousand five hundred prisoners, one major-general and 
one brigadier, tAvcnty heavy gims, thu'ty-one field-pieces, a 
quantit}' of ammunition, and two steamers, one of them of 
value to us for immediate use. Banks took possession on 
the 9th.* 

* The following is the correspondence : 

IIe.\dquarteks Port Hudson, Louisiana, July 7, 1S63. 
Qeneijal — Ilaviiifr received informntiou from yoiii tro<ips that Vickfiburff 
Itan been surrendered, I make tliis communication to ask you to give mo thr 
official assurance whether this is true or not ; and if true, I <uk for a cessation 



FTNISIIING TordlES: riJ-^AKINO TIIF WREf'K. ][)-J 

W'i' do not dosifj^ to derogate from tin- effective service of 
Banks or tlio gallantry of his army ; l)ut Port Hudson fell be- 



of hostUitks, with n. view to the considorfttion of tornis for Burn-ndcrinp thiB 
ixwition. 

I am, Gincral, very respectfully, your obediint mrvant, 

Frank (iAiiuxKn, 
Major-Oeneral commanding Confederate States Forces. 
To MAJon-GENERAi, Banks, 

Commanding United States Forces near Port Hudson. 

IIeadquajiters Departmext of the Gulf, 
Before Pokt IJcbson, July 8, 1863. 

Gbineral — In reply to your communication, dated the 7th instant, by flag of 
truce received a few moments since, I have the honor to inform you that I re^ 
ceived yesterday morning, July 7th. at forty-five minutes past ton o'clock, by 
thi^ gunboat Ovni'ral Price, an official di.'spatch from Major-General Ulysses S. 
Grant. United States Army, whereof the following is a true extract : 

IlKAOqUARTERS DePARTSIKNT OF THB TeN.VESSKB, 

Near Vicksburo, July 4, 1SC3. 
Majoe-Oeseral N. p. Banks, Commanding Department of the Gulf: 

General— The garrison of Vicksbure surrendered this ini«rningr. The number of prisoners, as 
given by the offlcers, is twenty-seven thousand ; field-artillery, one hundred and twenty-eight 
pieces ; and a large number of siege-guns, probably not less than cicbty. 

Your obedient servant, 

U. S. Grant. Major-Oener&l. 

I regret to say that, under present circumstances, I cannot, consistently 
witli my duty, consent to a cessation of hostilities for the purpose you Indicate. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

N. P. B.^jsTis, Major-General commanding 

To JIajor-Oktteral Fraxk Gardner, 

Commandinjf Confedoralc States Forces, Port Iludsou. 

Port HtnJSON, July 8, 1868. 

Gexeral — I have the honor to acknowli-dge the receipt of your communi- 
cation of this date, giving a copy of an official communication from Major 
General U. S. (Jrant, United State.s Army, announciiKj the surrender of the gar- 
rison of VirMmrg. 

Earing defended thin pontion as long as I deem my duty requires, I am vnll- 
ing to surrender to you, and will aj^point a rommis.«ion of throe offirors to meet 
a similar commission appointi-d by yourself, cU nine o'cl<>ek /Am morning, for 
the purpose of agreeing upon, and drawing up, the terms of surrender ; and for 



198 GRANT AND UIS CAJtfPAIGNS. 

fore the genius of Grant, as much as though it had been a 
fortification of Vicksburg, as, indeed, in a strictly mihtai,-}' 
view^it was. 



SHERMANS MOVEMENTS. 

We have abeady mentioned that the army of Johnston, 
which could never be brought to the attack, was still hovering 
upon our flank and rear, and had reoccupied Jackson. Grant 
was now ready to dispose of it. A large force had been 
placed under the command of Sherman for this purpose, and 
it had been Grant's intention to launch it upon Johnston 
within a short time, to be determined by his success at Yicks- 
burg. In ignorance of Pemberton's intention to surrender on 
the 4th, Grant had been making his arrangements for an 

that purpose I ask a cessation of hostilities. Will you please designate a point 
outside of my brt-astworks, where the meeting shall be held for this purpose '? 
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

Frank Gakdnek, commanding Confederate States Forces. 
To Major-General Banks, 

Commanding United States Forces. 

General Banks replied at once in the following language : 

Headquarters Txited States Forces, 
Before Port IIcdson, July 8, 1SG3. 

GkxeraIj — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communi- 
cation of this date, stating that you aro willing to surrender the garrison under 
your command to the forces under my command, and that you will appoint a 
commission of three oflBcers to meet a similar commission appointed by me, at 
nine o'clock this morning, for the purpose of agreeing upon and drawing up 
the terms of surrender. 

In reply, I have the honor to state that I have designated Brigadier-General 
Charles P. Stone, Colonel Henry W. Birge, and Lieutinant-Colonel Richard B. 
Irwin, as the otBcers to meet the commission apiK)inted by you. 

They will meet your officers at the hour designated, at a jxiint where the 
flag of truce was received this morning. I will direct that active hostilities 
shall entirely cease on my part, until further notice, for the purpose stated. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

N. P. Banks, Major-Genoral commanding. 
To Major-Genkral Frank Gardner, 

CotiiinaiKliiig Coiit'cdorate States Forces, Port Hudson. 



FINISIIIX(i Toit'IIKS: CLK.VUINO Till': WllKCIv. 19'.) 

assault at all iK)ints on tlu' Oth of July, of tlu^ success of which 
ho had no doubt ; immediately after that, Sherman was to bo 
sent against Johnston. Tho suiTonder of tho city, two days 
earlier than he had anticipated, made this at once practicable, 
pro^nded Sherman's troops and supplies were ready for tho 
movement. That distinguished otlicer, always ready, reported 
that ho could move at once. Happy tho commander who has 
such lieutenants! Moving, not only with tho expedititmary 
force before mentioned, but taking with it, by Grant's orders, 
tho remaind.r of the Thirteenth and Fifteenth Coi*ps, ho 
reaclu'd Jackson on the 10th, and immediately began the 
investment, extending his lines in a half-circle from right to 
left, touching the Pearl River, which flows through the city 
at both points.* 

Johnston's dispositions. 

We gather from Johnston's report, that it was his intention 
to hold the place only until he could draw off his army and 
remove his stores ; but to judge from his defences, wo should 
not have thought so. A strong line of. rifle-pits extended 
along his eutii-e front, protected at intervals In- powerful 
batteries with heavy epaulments, which crossed their fire 
upon the ground in front. In constructing these batteries 
more than two thousand cotton bales had been used. 

His army was thus posted fr'om right to left : Loring, 
Walker, French, and Breckinridge. Gist had brought him 
ten regiments of the " best blood" of the " chivalry," tho 
unconquerable t}iie. He then issued the following order, 
worthy of the Delphic oracle : 

Headqcarteks on the Field, July 9, 1868. 
Fem.ow-Soldieus — An ins^jlent foi.', Jiushi:d irith hope by his recent success at 
Vicksburg, confronts you, thrL-aioning the ptoplt', whose homeland liberty you 

* " General Sherman has Jackson invested from Pearl River <>a tho north 
to the river on tlie south. Tliis has cut off many hundrwl cars from tho 
Conffderacy. Slu'mi.in says he has forces enough, and feels no appre- 
hension about the result " — General Grant's di»p<itch to the general-in-chicf 
Julv V2. 



200 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

are here to protect, with plunder and conquest. Their guns may even now be 
heard as they advance. 

Th£ enemy it is at once the duty and the mission of you, brate men, to 
chastise and expel from the soil of Mississippi. Tlie commanding gmeral con- 
fidingly relies on you to sustain Ms pledge, vJiicJi lie mukxs in advance, and he 
will be with you in the good work, even unto the end. 

The vice of " straggling" he begs you to shun and to frown on. If needs 
be, it will be checked by even the most summary remedies. 

The telegraph has already announced a glorious victory over the foe, won 
by your noble comrades of the Virginia army on Federal soU. May he not, 
with redoubled hopes, count on you, wliile defending your firesides and 
household gods, to emulate the proud example of your brothers in the 
East? 

The country expects in this, the great crisis of its destiny, that every man 
\\'ill do his duty. 

JosKPn E. JoHKSTox, General commanding. 

A weak invention this, wliicli could neither deceive his 
enemy nor inspirit his oa\7i people ; its only merit being that 
he did not commit himself. Johnston, however, neither 
fought well nor retreated well. When he was at Canton, 
Grant had sent Blair to cut off his supplies, by laying the 
country waste for a distance of fifty miles around, destroying 
mills, factories, gi-anaries, and crops. On the 13th, Herron, 
aided by the nav)', had captured Yazoo Cit}-,* losing the gim- 
boat Baron de Kalb, which was exploded by a rebel torpedo 
in the adventui-e.t 

JOHNSTON DECAMPS. 

Sherman, somewhat delayed for want of aniniunition, wliich 
did not reach him in sufficient supply until the l(jth, iu- 

* "Finding that Yazoo City was being fortified, I sent General Herron there 
with ?iis dirision. Ho captured several hundred prisoners and one steamboat. 
Five pieces of heavy artillery and all the public stores fell into our hands. 
The enemy burned three steamboats on the approach of the gunboats." — Grant 
to Hnllerk, July 12. 

f "Unfortunately, wliilc tlir I'aron IV Kalb was moving slowly along she 
run foul of a torpt'do, which cxplodi'ii and sunk her. There was no sign of 
any thing of the kind to be seen. While she was going d(A^ni, another explodetl 
under her stern." — Admiral Porter to Secretary of the Navy. July 14. 



FINISIIINtf TorciIKS: f'LKAi;iX( } TIIF- U'liKCR. OQ^ 

trenched himself, and erected counter-liatteries. Jolinston, 
taking advantap^ of a thick fo^, made a (h^tormined sortie on 
the l.'Uh, wliich, after cn^atin^' some sh^dit confusion, was 
successfully iciMilscd. Shcnuairs woiks now progressed 
rajiidly, and a ^'cncral assault would soon have been made, 
had not Johnston aj^ain vindicated his reputation as a hero 
of retreats, ami evacuated the }>lac(\ Ife began to do so on 
the inth, very quietly ; and instead of further attempts " to 
chastise and repel us from the soil of Mississippi," he led his 
willing soldiers away by Morton and Meridian from that very 
soil, upon a march, the terrible concomitants of which were 
intense heat, want of water, and general discoiu'agemcnt. 

Sherman entered the beautiful city again on the 18th. It 
was now doomed to the hoiTors of war. Great l)locks of 
houses were burned down. Soldiers were seen ransacking 
houses. The negroes who had been left behind (the able- 
bodied ones had bicn hurried away by their ' masters) 
thronged the streets — the infirm, the women, and the children 
— not knowing whether it was the year of jubilee or the day of 
wi'ath which had come. Piles of household stuff, pianos, 
bedsteads, fancy tables, were dragged into the streets, and 
fired or scattered about the crossings. Thick smoke, cinders, 
falling timber, fierce flames, form the chiaro-oscuro of a picture 
which we shall not undertake to describe. 

In one of the expeditious to a house near Jackson, were 
foimd books and letters belonging to Jefferson Davis, — many 
of the latter fi-om men of station at the North, and implicating 
them in the inauguration of the rebellion. T\'e hare not time 
to moralize, but sun'ly at every page we have strong proof of 
the adage which declares the permanence of tlu' written word, 
and a declaration that there is nmny an inrvorahh' nrlixm 
besides those that appear in print. If " the pen is mightier 
than the sword" to create and bless, it is often surely so to 
destroy. 



202 GRANT AIsD HIS CA:MPAIGNS. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTEATION. 

EXPEDITI0^•S IX ALL DIRECTIONS.— ThE HAUL AT NaTCHEZ.— ExTKA MILITAKT QXTES 
TI0N8. — The 8CBJECT OF TRADE.— TaKIFF OF PRICES ON THE MISSISSIPPI. — HONOR: 

AT Memphis. — Review at New Orleans. — Sad accident, and its eksults.- 
Partial recovery. — Boards of honor. — Comments. 

Grant was now active in the organization of liis depart- 
ment ; setting it in order, as it proved, to form one part of the 
great whole, over which he was soon to exercise an imperial 
mihtary supremacy. He sent expeditions in every direction, 
to "spy out the nakedness of the land"' — to Canton, Pontotoc, 
and Grenada. An important one was dispatched under Ran- 
som to Natchez, to put a stop to the crossing of cattle at that 
point, from the West, for the enemy's supply. Eansom 
captured five thousand Iwad, of which Grant sent two tliou- 
sand to Banks, retaining the rest for his own army.* After a 



* " General Ransom was sent to Natchez, to stop the crossing of cattle for 
t!le Eastern army. On arrival, he found that large nvimbcrs had been driven 
out of the city to be pastured : also, that munitions of war had recently been 
crossed over to wait for Kirby Smith. lie mounted about two himdred of his 
m<n, and sent them in both directions. 

" They captured a number of prisoners, and five thousand head of Texas 
cattle, two thousand head of which were sent to Geni'ral Banks. The balance 
have been or will be brought here. 

" In Louisiana they captured more prisoners, and a number of teams loaded 
\vith ammunition. Over two million rounds of ammunition were brought 
back to Natchez with the teams captured, and two hundred and sixty-eight 
thousand rounds, besides artillery anmmnition, were destroyed."— G^raHf to 
Ualleck, July 18. 



OR(iAMZAll»)N AM) AK.MIMSTIIATION. 203 

short rest, he dispatched Steele with his division to Helensi, 
to render important ser\ices to Scholicld, then comniandm^ 
the DepartnuMit of the Missouri ; wliiln Onl and Herrou were 
sent to Banks to take parts in the new niovciiumts projected 
in tlie Dojiartnient of the Gulf. 

Grant's lu>ad([uart»'rs were temporarily at Vicksl)urg, but 
he spent his time in travelling from point to ]>('iiit, to see the 
condition and needs of his department. And a^ain ho had 
j)r(^sented to him extra military and perplexing questions, 
wliith he settled with {jjreat good judgment. The guerrillas 
who thronged the river-banks were outlawed. Furloughs, 
which had before been impossible, were now judiciously 
gi'anted, to " five per centum of the non-commissioned officers 
and privates of each regiment, battery, independent company, 
and detachment, for good conduct in their line of duty ;" and 
while these were thus rewarded, stragglers and shirkers were 
denied furloughs, and were punished by extra duties and 
fines. 

To illustrate at once the condition of the people, and Grant's 
caution in supplying them, we introduce the following order. 

Gexer.\x. Orders, No. 4G. 

IIeadquartehs Depautmext of the Texxessee, 
VicKSBiRo, Mississippi, July 21, 1803. 

1. Hereafter no issues of provisions will bo made for contrabands, except 
those serring in rrgiments or in contraband camps. 

2. Issui's of pro\ision8 will not be made to citizens, except on certificates 
that thoy nro do.stitute. and have no means of purchasini^ the nec«^88ary supplii-s 
for tlu'lr families. These certificates iiiu.st state the number of the family, and 
the time for which they draw, which shall not exceed ten days at any one 
time. 

3. In making issues to citizens, only articles of prime necessity will be given — 
»'. e., bread and meat, and these at tho rate of one jKjund of fiour, one half-pound 
of salt meat, or one iiound of fresh beef, to the ration. 

By order of 

MAJOR-QE:NERAIi U. S. (ilUVNT 

Jxo. A. Rawlins, A. A. G. 

He also addressed a letter to the Secretarj- of Way, on tho 
subject of trade, in which he declares, from his experience 



204 GRANT AND HIS CAifPAIGNS. 

in West Tennessee, that any trade whatever with the rebel- 
lious States weakened us to the extent of thu-tv-three per 
cent, of our force ; " but," he adds, " no theory of my 
own will ever stand in the way of my executing, in good 
faith, any order I may receive from those in authority over 



me. 



"* 



His kind sympathy with good soldiers was indicated at this 
time by his requiring the captain of a steamer to refund the 
excess of passage-money which he had charged, thus compel- 
ling our brave men who were going on fui-lough to pay exor- 
bitantly for the trip. 



* IIeadquaeteks Departmi:>"t of the Tennessee, 
VicKSBUEG, Miss., July 21, 1863. 

Sra — Your letter of the 4tli instant to me, inclosing a copy of a letter of 
same date to Mr. Mellon, special agent of the Treasury, is just received. My 
assistant adjutant-general, by whom I shall send this letter, is about starting 
for Washington ; hence I shall be very short in my reply. 

My experience in West Tennessee has convinced me that any trade what- 
ever with the rebellious States is weakening to us of at least thirty-three per 
cent, of our force. No matter what the restrictions thrown around trade, if any 
whatever is allowed, it will be made the means of supplying the enemy with 
what they want. Restrictions, if lived up to, make trade unprofitable, and 
hence none but dishonest men go into it. I will venture to say that no honest 
man has made money in West Tennessee in the last year, while many forttmes 
have been made there during that time. 

The people in the Mississipjn Valley are now nearly subjugated. Keep 
trade out for a few months, and I doubt not btit that the work of subjugation 
will be so complete, that trade can be opened freely with the State's of Arkansas, 
Louisiana, and Mississippi ; that the people of these States will be more anxious 
for the enforcement and protection of our laws than the people of the loyal 
States. They have experienced the misfortune of being without them, and are 
now in a most happy condition to appreciate their blessings. 

No theory of jny own will ever stand in the way of my executing, in good 
faith, any order I may receive from those in authority over me; but my position 
has given mo an opportunity of seeing what would not be known by persons 
away from the .«cene of war ; and I venture, therefore, to suggest great caution 
in opening trade with rebels. 

I am, Sir, very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

U. S. Ura>'T, Major-Qeneral. 
Hon. S. p. Chase, Secretary of llie Treasury. 



ORGANIZATION AND AD.MIMSTILVTION. 206 

Aftorwards, on tlio 20th of Soptonil)er, tlie general estab- 
lisliod ail tM|iiit!il)le tarifl' of faros froui St. Louis to New 
Orli'aus, aiul intt-ninHliato jilaces ; rciniirinj^' tliat L-nlisted men 
should 1)0 allowed to travel in the eahin, whin they desired it, 
at the same rates. 

By an order of An^ist 10th, he eonfirmed the judicious 
steps before taken on the subject of free people of color, 
establishing' camps for those out of em]»loynu'nt, and employ- 
ing them for Government purposes ; also allowing contracts 
between citizens and free people of color, for their labor, 
which were to be registered with tlie provost-marshals, with 
bonds to secure the kind treatment of the uegi'oes. 



HONORS AT MEMPHIS. 

On the 25tli of August, General Grant arrived at Memphis. 
His appearance awakened a wild enthusiasm in that city, so 
lately a hot-bed of rebellion. A committee of the citizen? 
waited upon him and importuned him to receive the hospital- 
ities of the city, which were accompanied by a series of resolu- 
tions. Grant consented, without a speech, and received the 
citizens at nine that night. After an hour's ovation and hand- 
shaking, there was a grand banquet, and the general was 
toasted as the guest of the city. He refused to respond in a 
speech. A few words were said by his staft-smgeon, Dr. 
Hewitt ; and a poem was read, combining his name with that 
of De Soto, who had discovered the river, and Fidton, who 
had made it alive with steamers. 

This combination of names was not verj- significant. The 
discovery of the river was an accident. Chance gave De Soto 
this historic fame ; and a grave beneath its waters, that no red- 
man might ever find and exhume his remains. Fulton made 
his gi-and experiments elsewhere, and peopled many other 
rivers with vajioring keels. 

It was the special glory of Grant, that from the day he 
moved upon Belmont until YicLsburg fell, he had bent all his 
energies to this mighty work; had ri.seu superior to all fail- 



206 GRANT AND ms CAMPAIGNS. 

ures ; had been called on, again and again, to make new com- 
binations ; and finally, by liis conquest, had insured the 
destruction of the treason, and the speedy return of peace, 
with all its grand future developments. 

In liis letter to the committee of the loyal citizens of Mem- 
phis, in order that he might not be misunderstood or miscon- 
strued by any of a different temper, he uses this language : 

" In accepting this testimonial, which I do at a gi'eat sacri- 
fice of my personal feelings, I simply desire to pay a tribute 
to the first public exhibition in Memphis of loyalty to the 
Government which I represent in the Department of the Ten- 
nessee. I should dislike to refuse, for considerations of 
personal convenience, to acknowledge anywhere, or in any 
form, the existence of sentiments which I have so long and so 
ardently desired to see manifested in this department. The 
stability of this Government and the unity of this nation 
depend solely on the cordial support and the earnest loyalty 
of the people. TMiile, therefore, I thank you sincerely for the 
kind expressions you have used towards myself, I am pro- 
foundly gratified at this public recognition, in the city of 
Memphis, of the power and authority of the Government of 
the United States." 

Upon leaving the banqueting table at Memphis, he went 
directly to the wharf, and took boat for Yicksburg ; and 
thence proceeded on a tour of relaxation and inspection. He 
stopped for a few days at Natchez, and on the 2d of Septem- 
ber arrived at New Orleans, to visit General Banks, for a 
short respite and rest after his protracted and arduous labors, 
and to confer Avith that officer about future military opera- 
tions. In the complications of the vast theatre, it had not 
been yet decided Avhat woidd be the next field of action ; but 
the progress of events seemed to point for a time to Mobile. 

RE^TEW AT NEW ORLEANS. 

On the 4tli, at Carrolton, a suburb of the Crescent City, a 
grand review took place, in wliith Generals Grant and Banks 



OT?r«ANIZAri(i.\ AND ADMIMSTRATION. 007 

wore flanked by Wiislil)unio, Stono, Hcrron, Tliomas, and 
other j^'enerals ; and here Grant met, not without emotion, 
that j^doricms Thirteentli Corps, wliieh liad bmi witli liim 
under MeCh'ni.iiid ntnl Onl at Yiekslmrf,', an.i liad after- 
wards been sent to J>ankK. Mounted on a nia'^qiifieent 
ehar^^er. placed at his disposal by General Banks, Grant 
dashed at a full ^alloj. alon-,^ th(> lines, with diflicidt}' followed 
by his eortej^'e ; and at len;^dh he drew up und(>r a fine old 
oak, for the troops to march past. Ho hfted his hat with 
somethinf^ more than formal courtesy, as the torn, soiled, and 
shot-j)ierced colors of the Thirteentli were lowered in passing,' ; 
for, as his eye rested on them, his memory nished back to the 
days when, at Belmont, Donelson, Pittsburg Lauding, and all 
the battles around and at Vicksburg, those over whom they 
wayed had been the companions of his fortunes, and, in part, 
the achievers of his fame. 

But the display was attended with a serious mishap. As 
General Grant was returning to his hotel from the review of 
the Thirteenth Corps, his horse became frightened by the 
letting off of steam, with a shrill whistle, by a railroad loco- 
motive, and sprang wildly with such violence against a car- 
riage that was commg in an opposite direction, that both horse 
and rider were thrown upon the street. The residt was a 
most serious accident. His hip was temporarily paralyzed by 
the tremendous concu-ssion, and he was for a time quite help- 
less ; nor, indeed, did he recover so as to walk without 
cnitches, or mount his horse without assistance, until after he 
had reached Chattanooga, near the end of October. There 
really seemed to be danger that his services would be lost to 
the country. 

The subject of trade was provisionally arranged in- a proc- 
lamation on the 13th of the month, declaring that unrestricted 
trade was opened to Cairo, and all towns on the Missouri and 
Ohio above it ; while all places from Cairo to New Orleans 
were opened to trade, with proper restrictions. 

Grant was also very solicitous that all his men shoiUd be 
paid ; and as all official papers had, up to this time, been very 



208 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

loosely made out, lie now requii'od, by order, that every man 
should be provided with a full descriptive hst, whenever de- 
tached from his company or regiment, in order to enable him 
to draw his pay.* 

The kon frame of Grant, aided by his iron will, conquered 
the illness incident to his fall in a few weeks ; and while still 
lingering and suffering, he embarked on a steamer to proceed 
slowly up the river, in accordance with orders fr'om Wash- 
ington. 

The following order will also show his sohcitude that the 
organizations imder his command should receive full credit 
for their gallant actions. This was done to carry out the spirit 
of General Orders, No. 19, February 22, 1862, from the Adju- 
tant-General's Office. 

CIRCITLAR. 

Headquaetees DEPARTiIE^•T OF THE Tex>t:ssee, 
VicKSBXjEG, Miss., July 12, 1863. 

Army corps commanders, and the commanders of detached divisions, with 
the army in the field, will each, as soon after the reception of this order as 
practicable, convene a board, to consist of three olBcers, to determine the 
battles participated in by the various regiments, batteries, and independent 
companies of this command ; and forward through the usual military channels, 
to their headquarters, a list of such as are entitled, for gallantry and good con- 
duct, to inscribe upon their banners the names of their actions. 

By order of 

MAJOR-GENER.Ui U. S. GrAKT. 

T. G. Bowers, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. 

It was incident to this order that there was organized at 
Vicksburg, for the Seventeenth Corps, a board of honor, 
consisting of eight principal officers, with McPherson, its 
famous commander, as advisory member. General Logan 

* " Hereafter, no enlisted man will be sent from his company or regiment 
witliout such descriptive list as is herein retjuired being furnislud to the 
proper ollicer in charge ; and any neglect to comply with this order will subject 
the offender to trial by court-martial, and dismissal from the service. 

" It will be the duty of all officers of the Insin-'ctor QeneriU's Department to 
properly inspi-ct and rejiort any neglect of duty in tliis particular." — Cf^ranCs 
Ocncral Order, Vicksburg, Soptombor 39. 



OIMJANIZATloN AND ADMINISTRATION. 209 

was president. The duty of this board was to devise and 
present a modal of honor, ])oth as a reward and as a means of 
exeiting a pro|>cr cmuhition, to all non-comniissitjncd ollicers 
and men whose names were forwarded as worthy of this honor. 
Company commanders sent thmn uj) to the eolont-ls, by whom 
they were forward^'d to the brigade conim.uidi is, wlio, in turn, 
sent them to tlie President.* 

In our democratic fear, lest we should in any way approxi- 
mate to titles and insignia of nobility, oiu- Government has 
limited itself to presenting medals of honor only to distin- 
guished generals. We are clearly of the opinion that the 
establishment of an order, analogous to that of the " Legion of 
Honor," would accomphsh wonders in the military world. 
We see in the conduct of large organizations, like the one now 
mentioned, only efibrts to supjily the want to a partial extent. 
A grand cross from the President of the United States would 
be worth all the brevets he coidd confer. It is not too late to 
inaugurate such a system, and wo hope to see it carried out 
yet. 

* The device on the mediila for the Seventeenth Corps was a crescent, with 
stars at each end, and a suspended shield ; and upon the crescent were the 
words, " Vicksburg, July 4, 18G3." We believe that this, or similar 6}-stems, 
were adopted in other corps, but to what extent we do not know. 

14 



210 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

THE MTT.T TAT^Y DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI — THE DEPABTME^^: OF 
THE CUMBEBLAND. 

ChICKAMAUGA. — A OLANCE AT THE TOPOGRAPHY. — TdE NEW COMilAXD. — ThE ARITT 
CONCENTRATES. — At CnATTANOOGA. — A FINE CHANCE OF STARVING. — SmiTH'S 
STRATAGEM. — HoOKER ADVANCES. — BrAGG's FATAL ERROR. — SllERMAN MOVES. — 

Ekoonnoissances and plans. 

We must now cast a rapid retrospective glance at the De- 
partment and Army of the Cumberland, which had been 
intrusted to the command of General Kosecrans. He had 
started fi-om Nashville with a large force, to follow and defeat 
the enemy under General Bragg, and, if possible, to possess 
himself of Chattanooga. On the 2d of January, in the mur- 
derous battle of Murfreesboro' or Stone River, he had defeated 
and driven away the rebel army. After a long rest and re- 
organization at Murfreesboro', he had again moved upon the 
enemy, and in the battle of Chickamauga, on the 19th and 
20tli of September, had sustained a partial defeat, but had 
succeeded in occupying Chattanooga. His right and centre 
had been driven back ; but, thanks to the inspiration of 
Granger, and the rock-like firmness of Thomas, his left had 
stood firm, and ho had at least succeeded in holding the ob- 
jective point of the active campaign — a point of none the less 
value because our people, depressed by the defeat, could not 
then appreciate it. 

A glance at a topographical map ^^•ill show the importance 
of Chattanooga. The key of the Tennessee River, which is 
navigable for steamboats for eight months of the year to that 



MILITARY r^IVIsrON OV TIIK MISSISSIPPI. 'JH 

point, iind fof sinulUr vessels jill tlir year, if is tlu^ centre of 
;i knot of r;iilro:uls, jiud surrouiulcd hy mountain rid^'cs, from 
wliieli tive States may be seen. It was, perhaps, tin; most im- 
portant stratopjic position in the rebel States. The Govern- 
ment was very solieitous that, after so much trouble to get it, 
it should not now be abantloned. The name Chattanooga 
(Indian for " Hawk's Nest"), indicates its local character. 
Chattanooga commands the sonthern entrance into Tennessee. 
It lies at the mouth of Chattanooga Valley, which is fonncd 
by Lookout Mountain and Missionary Eidgc, between which 
Chattanooga Creek or river tioAvs into the Tennessee. Roads 
nin through the valley to Chattanooga, and through the Mis- 
sionary liidge there is a gap at Kossville. 

Lookout Mountain is very steep and rocky, rising more than 
two thousand feet in height ; the base is wooded, and the 
ascent b}' troops apparently impracticable. 

The South Chickamauga runs along the eastern slope of 
Mission Kidge, through McLemore's cove. West of Lookout 
Mountain is the Lookout Creek and Valley, through which a 
short and unfinished railroad is constructed to Trenton. 



GRANT S NEW COMMAND. 

To effect the purpose of maintaining Chattanooga, and at 
the same time to give one bead to the three separate armies 
which were to concentrate upon it, and thus to secure a more 
perfect co-operation than had been possible in the separate 
commands of Burnside and Rosecrans, General Grant, alike 
distinguished by his remarkable services and his superior 
rank, was put in command of the whole. 

He was telegraphed by Mr. Stanton to await his arrival at 
Indianapolis. There they met for the first time, and pro- 
ceeded together to Louisville, reaching it on the evening of 
the 18th. AiTived in that city, the secretary handed to Grant 
the following order, the military significance of which we have 
already indicated : 



212 GRANT iLND Ills CAilPAIGXS. 

GEKERAii Orders, No. 337. 

War DEPARTiitNT, Adjutant-General's OrFiOB, 
Wasuington, October 16, 1S63. 

By direction of the President of the United States, the Departments of the 
Ohio, of the Cumberland, and of the Tennessee, will constitute the Military 
Division of the ^lississippi. Major-General U. S. Grant, United Slates Army, 
is placed in command of the Military Division of the Mississippi, with his head- 
quartiTS in the field. 

Miijor-Geneiiil W. S. Rnsecrans, United States volunteers, is relieved from 
the command of the Department and Army of the Cumberland. Major-General 
G. H. Thomas is hereby assigned to that command. 

By order of the Secretary of Wi r. 

E. D. Towns £XD, A. A. G. 

Among Grant's most remarkable characteristics is liis sa- 
gacity in the choice of subordinates. It was upon his recom- 
mendation that Thomas had been promoted to the command 
of the Department of the Cumberland, and Sherman to that 
of the Tennessee. 

The following is the order by which Grant assumed his 
new command. It was the most extensive one ever controlled 
by one general commanding in the field in America. It com- 
prised three departments, nine States and portions of States, 
and extended fi'om the Mississippi into the Alleghauies. 

General Orders, No. 1. 

Headquarters Military Division of tub Mississippi, 
Louisville, Kentucky, Octobor 18, 1S63. 

In compliance with General Orders, No. 337, of date, Washington, District of 
Columbia, October IG, IStjlJ, the undersigned hereby assumes command of 
the "Military Division of the Mississippi, embracing the Departments of the 
Ohio, of the Cumberland, and of the Tennessee." 

The headquarters of the Military Division of the Mississippi will bo in the 
field, where all reports and returns required by army regulations and existing 
orders will be made. 

U. S. Grant, Mnjur-Gcneral. 

The military force comprised the three armies of the Ten- 
nessee, the Cumberland, and tlie Ohio, and a grand division 
under General Hooker, in itself a large additional army. The 
department of tlie Ai'my of the Cunib<ul;iiid was commanded 



I 



MIMTAUV hlVISIoN OF TIIK MISSISSFPPI. 21.3 

l)j General Oeori^e II. Tliomas ; (liat of tlm Tennessee by 
CJeneral William T. Sliernian ; and that of the Ohio, tempo- 
rarily, by General A. E. Buniside, soon to bo relieved by Gen- 
eral Jolin G. Foster, 

The corps commanders were Generals Gordon Granger. 
Potter, Howard, Slocum, J. M. Palmer, Lof^an, Hurlbut, Mc- 
Plu>rson, and INIanson ; commanding respectively the Fourth, 
Ninth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, 
Seventeenth, and Twenty-third corps. In this vast territory, 
and with this great array of men, Grant was about to try a 
Najioleonic problem. When that gi'cat master of the art of 
war had sent Moreau to the lUiine, in 1799, he had declared 
til at there were not two men in France capable of command- 
ing a hundred thousand men. Every other general had two 
enemies, — one in his front, and one in the number of his men. 
A niucli larger command, in a very difficult territory, was now 
about to try the calibre of Grant. Of course it was only a por- 
tion of the large force indicated, which was to be "with him at 
Chattanooga ; but he had the direction of the entire force. 

The rebel armies which he was to encounter, although not 
perhaps equal to his own, were large and well appointed. 
There was the great army of Bragg, which, constantly re- 
cruited, had become veterans, in fighting into and out of Ken- 
tucky ; and with it was the corps of Longstreet, from Lee's 
army in Virginia. 

On the 21st of October, Grant was at Nashville, where he 
met Generals Hooker and Eosecrans, and from there he sent 
a telegi'am in advance to Buniside. 

He had already ordered the Fifteenth Corps, except Tuttle's 
division,* to the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, thence to 
proceed to Chattanooga ; but this becoming kno\\Ti to the 
rebels, a force, three thousand strong, under Colonel Chal- 
mers, collected upon its path at C'olliersville, and came very 



* General John E. Smith's divitiion.of the Seventeenth Corpa, which .wi.-> ..; 
ITolena. rn route to join Stwle, was transfrrred to thf FiftiHsnth Corpe, and 
mardii'd with it in phice of Tuttle's, t^tceles exigency having parsed 



214 GRAKT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

near taking Sherman and his staff prisoners. After this, 
crossing the Tennessee, he marched by its northern bank to 
Chattanooga, to the great discomfiture of the enemy. This 
was done in* accordance with detailed orders of General 
Grant, sent to Sherman on the 19th of October. Up to that 
time Sherman had been moving along the Memphis and 
Charleston Eailroad, repairing it, and putting it in running 
order as he advanced, under orders from the general-in- 
chief ; but upon receipt of Grant's orders he abandoned 
the railroad, crossed the Tennessee, moved by the north bank 
to Stevenson, and thence to Chattanooga. 

AT CHATTANOOGA. 

On the 23d of October, General Grant arrived at Chatta- 
nooga, and lost not a moment in making a thorough examina- 
tion into the condition of things. It was bad enough in all 
conscience. As early as the 19th, he had telegraphed to 
Thomas to hold Chattanooga at all hazards ; and the reply of 
that thorough soldier had been : " I will hold the town till we 
starve." Grant now saw for himself that, unless something 
was done immediately, the chance of starving was admirable ; 
indeed the fearful process was already begun. 

The Union army had a strong position, with its flanks rest- 
ing on the Tennessee River, near the mouth of Chattanooga 
and Citico creeks. The enemy had encu-cled this line by tak- 
ing position on the western sloi:)e of a part of Missionary 
Ridge, across Chattanooga Valley, and on the top and on the 
northern end of Lookout Mountain. We were thus .shut off 
from all communication with Bridgeport by the left bank ; 
and the river-road on the right bank was infested by his small 
bands, and by sharp-shooters fi'om the opposite bank. 

All supplies had to be sent l)y a very difficult route over the 
Anderson road, almost impassable, across Walden's Ridge, 
from Stevenson, Alabama, a distance of sixty or seventy 
miles; and tlic supply trains wern shelled from Lookout 
Moimtain, from the very dav that Rosecraus had abandoned 



MILITARY DIVISION OF Tllli MISyiSSIPPI. 215 

it. A season of unintorniptcd rnins luul iii.-idc the mountain 
roads very bud, and tho low lands iilniost bottomless; and tlio 
dosti-uctiou of a largo wagon-train of supplies, by a rebel 
raid, had added to the mischief. 

The animals were so weak that they eould not drav/ half a 
load, the wagons wert^ worn out l)v the wretched roads, the 
troops were on half-rations, and it was believed would bo 
soon reduced to quarter-rations ; the horses and mules ate vo- 
raciously feed not provided by the quartermaster's depart- 
ment — nz., wagon-boxes, fence-rails, harness, dry leaves, and 
woollen blankets. One could fancy that the bones of the artil- 
lery horses rattled as they moved ; they were only fit for ana- 
tomical specimens in a veterinary museum, and they were dy- 
ing by thousands. 

The first thing to be done was to get supplies ; otherwise 
we must evacuate, and retreat was utter ruin. 

While Bragg's army had fuU suppHes, it is wnitliy of notice 
that A\ heeler's cavalry, which was operating in our rear, was 
unable to accomplish its purpose on account of the bad roads 
and want of forage. Bragg ordered him to Middle Tennes- 
see, but he dechned to go, on this accoimt. 

When Hooker was at Nashville, he had been ordered to 
move to Bridgeport, on the right bank of the Tennessee, 
about thii-ty miles below Chattanooga. There he was to cross 
the river, and secure the river and wagon-roads between 
Bridgeport and Bro^vn's Feny, immediately below Lookout 
^lountain. 

In company with General Thomas, and General W. V. 
Smith, chief engineer, General Grant made a reconnoissance 
of Brown's Ferry, and the ranges of hills lying south of it, and 
the details of his plan were then aiTauged. Hooker, upon 
crossing at Bridgeport to the south side, was to march by tho 
main wagon-road through ^Hiitesides to Wauhatchie. Ho 
started on the 'JfUh of October. 

Palmer, with tlie Fourteenth Corps, was ordered to move 
by the only tolerable road north of the river, to a point on 
the north bank, opposite Whitesides. Then he was to cross 



216 GRANT AND HIS CAJSIPAIGNS. 

to the south bank, and follow in Hooker's track, holding and 
guarding the road in his rear. 

A study of General Grant's plans and operations, from the 
moment of assuming the command in person, will amply repay 
the mihtary student. Complicated as they at first seem, each 
little detail had its part in the grand tactics of that brief but 
immortal campaign ; in judgment, skill, celerity, and results, 
second to none iu mihtary history. It was the very poetry of 
the art. 

smith's strategem. 

To aid the movements of Hooker and Palmer, which would 
have draAvn a large rebel foice upon them at once. General 
WiUiam F. Smith, the chief engineer, was du'ccted to take a 
small force of four thousand men, and proceed down the river 
to Brown's Ferry, on the sharp bend, six miles below Chat- 
tanooga, without alarming the enemy. He was then to seize 
the range of steep hills at the mouth of Lookout VaUey, three 
miles below Lookout Mountain, held by the enemy in smaU 
force, and covering the roads to his various camps, by which 
he could at any moment have brought an overwhelming force 
to command the river and defeat oui* plans. 

Smith's scheme, if successful, would oblige the rebel detach- 
ments between Lookout Creek and Shell Mound to fall back 
behind the creek, aryi would permit Hooker to advance. It 
would also at once open tlie river up to Brown's Ferry for 
steamboats, and give a much shorter distance for the wagon- 
ing.* 

On the night of the 27tli of October, General Smith set out 
on his secret Init perilous expedition. Embarking from twelve 
to eighteen hundred picked men, on sixty ponton-boats, tliirty 



* I am indebted, in this portion of the narrative, to a very clear .ind interest 
iiig account of the entire campaign, which has also the merit of brevity, to be 
fomid in the .Tanuarv number of the United States Service Magazine for 1864 
It is by Mr. I'r. slon West, of the T'nited States Coa.>;t Survey. 



MILITARY DIVISION OFTIIF, MISSISSIPPI. 217 

in each, uiidcr ]>rij.;;ulior-G('noral Ilazon, a yoiuif^ officer of 
p^oat clash ami ilarinpj — aftorwanls the hero of Fort Mc- 
Allister, in Shormairs "frcat canipaip^ — they were floated 
down ilio river, unobserved by three miles of pickets, until 
they reached Brown's Fen-y, six miles by water from Chat- 
tanooga. Thes(>, landing at two points — at only one of which 
they were fired upon — seized the pickets, and got pos.session 
of the spurs near the river. The romaindt-r of the four 
thousand, who had marched by the north l)ank, and who lay 
in a concealed camp at Brown's Ferry, with the bridge raa- 
t(>rial, were ferried over before daylight, strengthening the first 
jvirty. At ten o'clock in the morning, the i5onton-bridge, 
nine hundred feet long, was down, and the work accomplished. 
The points occupied were at once well intrenched ; our artil- 
h'Tj put in position, playing upon the main road from Chat- 
tanooga Valley to Lookout Valley ; and the enemy's detach- 
ments between Lookout and Shell Mound, finding themselves 
liable to be cut oft', retreated in hot haste behind the creek. 
The work, projected by General Smith, and executed by him, 
with the aid of Hazen, had been done in the handsomest 
manner. There was no delay, no bungling ; the programme 
had been exactly earned out. 

HOOKER ADVANCES. 

This having been accomplished, the next step was the ad- 
vance of Hooker. On the same day, the 28th of October, 
that commander brought his force into Lookout Valley, at 
Wauhatchie, on the direct road from Bridgeport, through 
Whitesides, towards Chattanooga. Careful dispositions were 
made for defending the road in his rear, and also that from 
Brown's Ferry to Kelly's Ferry, a very important route on 
his left, nearly parallel to the road by which he moved. 

The force he had in hand was composed of How.ird's 
(Eleventh) corps, and Geary's divisit^n of Slocum's (Twelfth). 
The left of Howard was thrown well out towards Brown's 
FeiTy, while Geary was on the extreme right. ^Vs has been 



218 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

indicated, Palmer, with tlio Fourteentli Corps, followed in 
Hooker's rear, forming a strong mo\-ing base for the entire 
movement. 

And now, in order to appreciate what had been effected, let 
us again look for a moment at the former condition. Let it 
be observed that up to this time we had been literally be- 
sieged in Chattanooga. It is true that the rebels only con- 
fi-onted us in a concentric line, from river-bank to river-bank. 
Theii' force was distributed on both Lookout and Missionary 
ridges, and in the Chattanooga Valley. One brigade was in 
observation in Lookout Valley, and his pickets lay along the 
river-bank to Bridgeport. But we were equally besieged in 
rear. Starvation within, and the distance of sixty or seventy 
miles of an impracticable route for the transportation of sup- 
plies, constantly watched by the cavah-y of the enemy. Li 
this transportation by starved teams, it was calculated that 
ten thousand animals had perished. 

Why not retreat then? The answer is clear. Retreat 
would have been disastrous in the extreme, and it was only 
possible without artillery and wagons. The communications 
were infested by the rebel cavahy and guerrilla parties. And 
yet, in one week more, it would have been the only horrible 
alternative. 

Now look at the new pictm'c. By the skilful combinations 
of Grant, and the fine invention of Smith, all was changed. 
We now held the two excellent parallel roads — the long one 
from Bridgeport to Brown's Feny, and the short one from 
Kelly's to Brown's. The former was but twenty-eight miles 
long ; and by means of the latter, if supplies were taken up 
the river on boats from Bridgeport to Kelly's, the wagoning 
was but eight miles. From this time the supplies, although 
not superabundant, increased so that tliero was no suffering 
for man or beast. Chattanooga could bo hold against aU 
odds. 

Bragg's main hnyo had ])oen to starve us out, or to make 
us retreat. Now ho could only vacantly wonder what Grant 
meant by taking Lookout Val'.oy. Was it to cover a retreat? 



MIUTAia' niVlSlUN OF I'lIK MississiriM.. 210 

or could he \ui\c the iiudiicity to propose the offensive ? In 
tiny case, he must be defeated at once ; 1m -causey said a load- 
ing rebel paper, "to stay there (hiiiiiL; the winter would bo 
the ruin of hof/i arniii^s." It was manifest that only one would 
stay, and the other be ruined. 

Incident to this condition of things, Mr. Jefferson Davis 
eame down to insjiect the situation ; and as his ^-isit to Vicks- 
burg had, in point of time at least, heralded its disasters, so 
now all his glowing words — and he has a trick of oratory — 
could not disguise to the sagacious oflBcers around him that 
they could not mend Bragg's broken foi-timos. Pemberton, 
the oi/ant fcrn'hic of the Confederate armies, is reported to 
have given his opinion in language that savored more of 
strength than righteousness. 

The truth is, that although the enera}' was fully aware of 
our condition, and knew that we were seeking a shorter line, 
he had not been sufficiently vigilant : he had left the weak 
point guarded by only a single brigade. Time, after they 
were thus siu'prised, an effort was made to recover their lost 
ground, but it v/as too late. Lougstreet, one of the boldest 
and most rapid fighters ui the rebel army, made a night 
attack upon Hooker's extreme right, consisting of Geary's 
division, which held an untenable position near Wauhatchie, 
separated by too long a space — a mile and a half — from the 
remainder of the command. Penetrating into this gap, their 
attack was intended to cut oft' and capture Geaiy. But How- 
ard was r.qudly moved to tlu^ right — one division after an- 
other—to help Geary ; and not only was the attack a faOiu'e, 
but the preponderance of Howard's troops enabled him to 
rout the enemy, and seize the remaining crests lying west of 
Lookout Creek. Thus were we confirmed in the quiet pos- 
session of the roads for which we had striven. His attack 
had ended in giving us still greater advantages. But great 
as was this success, it was only the beginning of Grant's work. 
He did not mean to content himself with holilijig Chattanooga. 
The rebel impudence was now to be punished. Bragg's army 
must not only raise the "siege," but must be made to fiy in 



220 GRANT AND mS CAMPAIGNS. 

confusion. The labor was still herculean, but tlie hero was 
not wanting. 

Two steamers which had been captured from the enemy, 
and one which we had hastily built and equipped, at Bridge- 
port and Kelly's Ferry, were at once put into requisition ; 
supphes were forwarded as rapidly as possible to the latter 
point, and then brought by wagons, eight miles only, to the 
town. 

BRAGG S FATAL ERROR. 

Knowing that, at an earlier date, Bumside had been or- 
dered to join Eosecrans from Knoxville, Bragg, in the vain 
hope of cutting him off, and beating him in detail — over-ui-ged 
too by the clamors of the rebel government and press, that 
he should open the way for a new invasion of Kentucky — now 
committed the fatal error of making a detachment in the face 
of a numerous and vigilant enemy. He detached Longstreet 
to attack Bumside and take Knoxville. Nothing could have 
played more completely into Grant's hands. He could not 
conceal his joy ; but it did not hurry him into extravagances. 

His first idea M'as to attack Missionary Eidge without 
delay, and of this plan he informed Burnside ; telling him 
to hold Knoxville to the last extremity. But a sober second- 
thought, suggested by that calm prudence which is one of 
his best characteristics, prompted him to await the arrival 
of Sherman and his army, and thus by skill and carefulness to 
leave little to chance. And so, while thus waiting, he spent 
the time in perfecting his plans, making complete reconnois- 
sances, and getting all things in readiness for his consummate 
movement. Indeed, he could lose nothing by a delay which 
had the additional merit of completely deceiving the enemy. 

SHERMAN MOVES. 

Sherman's (Fifteenth) corps consisted of four divisions — 
Osterhaus M. L. Siitith, Tuttlc, and Ewing. On the 24th of 



MIMTAKY DIVISION OF Till'. MISSISSIl'IM. oo^ 

October, ho rrccivod a tclof^-;iin from (Jruiit to ])ut tlieni in 
motion for Cliatt;inooga.* I'ursuunt to this, Ostorliiius with 
the First Division, was sent to Vicksburg, and there embarked 
on steanuTs for Memphis, to go thence hy tlio Mempliis and 
Charleston Raihoad to Chattanooga, Tuttlo's division, it will 
be remembered, was left behind, but that of J. E. Smith, of 
the Seventeenth, was also taken, with the Second and Fourth, 
direct to Bridgeport, en route for Cliattanooga. Aft«^r varied 
adventures, they all reached their destination. 

Crraut again telegraphed to Burnside his new arrangement, 
and the information that Sherman was then (on the 14th of 
November) at Bridgeport. He could not send men to ]3uru- 
side, for they could not then be supplied, the country around 
being devastated in a large area. The importunities from 
and in behalf of Kuoxvillo were numerous and urgent. Hal- 
leck, the general- in-chief, besought Grant to relieve Bum- 
side, and avert the catastrophe of losing Knoxville and East 
Tennessee. But here was another proof that Headquarters at 
the Capital, however skilful, figuring upon maps with rule and 
di^^ders, can never grasp the tactics or grand-tactics of a 
theatre of war. The problem was in Grant's hands, and he 
alone saw the solution.t Longstreet at Knoxville must be 
neutralized and ruined by Sherman's new re-enforcements at 

* HEADQUARTERa MiLITAKT DIVISION Ot TIIK MISSISSIPPI, 

CiiATTANOOoA, October 24, 1363. 
Ma.ior-Generai, W. T. SnERM.vir, Corinth, Miss.: 

Drop every thing cast of Bear Cri'ek, and move with your entire force 
towards Stcvenain, until you receive further orders. The enemy are evidently 
moving a large force towards Cleveland, and may break through our lines and 
move on Nashville ; in which event, your troops are the only forces at command 
that could boat them there. With your forces hero before the enemy cross the 
Tennessee, we could turn their flank so as to force them back and save the ixjs- 
sibility of a move northward this winter. 

U. S. Ohast. Major-General. 

f Mr. Dana, the able and energetic Assistant Secretary of War, was with 
(ieneral Grant, and always seemed highly satisfied with both his plans and 
their execution ; indeed, never were such complex plans more judiciously made, 
and more precisely cxccatod. 



222 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

Chattanooga. The blow which would scatter Bragrf s force on 
Mission Ridge, would pass like an electric shock to the besiegers 
of Knoxville, and send them, disjointed and destitute, to ravage 
"their own people," until they could join Lee in Virginia. 
Sending Colonel Wilson of his staff— accompanied by the 
Assistant Secretary, Mr. Dana— to Knoxville, to explain the 
situation, Grant hurried forward his plans. In the mean time, 
Burnside must lure Longstreet on, making a show of fight at 
Loudon, Lenoir, and Campbell's Station, as he fell back to 
Knoxville ; and then allow himself to be besieged, only holding 
Knoxville at all hazards. 



RECOKNOISSANCES AND PLANS. 

A careful reconnoissance of the country north of the Ten- 
nessee, eastward to the South Chickamauga, and another to 
the northern end of Missionary Eidge, was made imder the 
direction of General WiUiam F. Smith. There was a good 
road from Brown's Ferry, behind Chattanooga, concealed for 
the most part by hills, so that although the enemy saw the 
troops moving northward fi'om the terry, they might well 
suppose that it was a movement in favor of Knoxville, instead 
of a direct manoeuvre in their front. 

Grant's plan took consistency as follows : Sherman, with his 
own troops and one of Thomas's di^dsions, was to cross the 
river from the north bank, just below the mouth of the South 
Chickamauga, protected by a cross-fire of artillery. Thomas 
was to co-operate with Sherman thus • The troops in Chatta- 
nooga Valley, on his left, were to move directly forward upon 
the enemy, one division being a movable body for any service 
that the exigencies of the field might require. The point ot 
attack was the northern end of Mission Ridge, and communi- 
cation was to bo kept open between Thomas and Sherman by 
the roads on the south bank of the river. Howard's (Eleventh; 
corps was to be marched to the north bank as a reserve, to 
co-operate wherever they might be needed. All the troops 
designed for the grand movement were furnished with two 



MITJTAHY DIVISION' OF THK MlSSISSim oo;{ 

day's cookctl rations in thoir haversacks, and one hundred 
rounds of ammunition to the man. 

Wliile these arranj^eraents wore made for the attack in 
front, Grant gave special directions to Thomas and Sherman 
that it was of tlie rri-oatest importance to send a cavalry force 
to the right and rear of the enemy to cut the railroad, sonu^- 
where between Cleveland and Dalton, and thus to sever 
Longstreet's southern communications with Tiragg. Grant 
and the enemy were at cross-purposes, evidently : they had 
mana?uvred to cut off Burnside, and he to cut off Longstreet ! 
Wliich was wise and which foolish, we shall soon see. Tlie 
rebels have often boasted that they were overpowered by 
numbers : they were here entirely outgeneralled. 



224 GRA^'T AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 



CHAPTER XX. 



THE GRAND MOVEMENT BEGUN. 



ShEKMAN MARCUE9. — TuOilAs's ADVANCE. — SuERMAN CROSSES AXD TAKES POSITION. — 

Hooker co-operates. — All ready along the ldte. — Tue Confederates. — 
Waiting fob Hooker. — STOBiiiNo of the ridge. — Hooker attacks. — Thb 
fight ended and pursuit begun. — Pursuit discontinued. — Coiqients. 



Having anticipated, in order to indicate the principal fea- 
tures of the programme, let us now observe with what singular 
order and exactitude it was carried out. 

Sherman's troops marched from Bridgeport by vraj of "V\ hite- 
sides, crossed the river at Brown's Ferrj, moved up the north 
bank, and were kept concealed from the enemv, and thus 
reached a point not far from the mouth of the South Chicka- 
mauga. One hundred and sixteen ponton-boats had been 
carried by a concealed road to the mouth of the North 
Chickamauga. The bridge site had been selected just below 
the South Chickamauga, where the terrain in fi'ont formed a 
good natural tete-de-ponf, and where the artillery could be 
advantageously posted. Sherman's force, which li;id arrived 
on the 23d of November, now consisted of the Fifteenth 
Corps and one division of the Sixteenth, all under the com- 
mand of General Blair ; but at the crossing of Brown's 
Ferry, the division of Osterhaus, having been detained by 
the breakmg of the ponton-bridge, was directed to report 
to Hooker, and was witli that general in the subsequent 
movements. 



THE GRAND MoVKMKNT BEGUN. O'i-') 



THOMAS S ADVANCE. 

Leaving Sherman inr a moment, all ready to make his 
erossinj:; on the 2'.id, wo must now notico tlic very clever 
movement of Thomas, which was to phi}- a most important 
part in the complications of the drama. On the 22d, some 
deserters from Bragg's army reported that he was falling 
back. This statement received some confirmation, in the 
opinion of General Grant, fi-om the following dispatch received 
by him fi'om Bragg : 

HEADQUAUTEnS AkMT OF TeXXESSEB, 

In the Field, Nov. 20, IjtiS. 

Major-Gekeral U. S. Quant, 

Commaitding Uintcd States Forces at Cfiattanoogn : 
General — As tliere may still be some non-combatants in Hiattanooga. I 
deem it proper to notify you tliat prudence would dictate their early with- 
drawal. 

I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient sirvant, 

Braxton Bragg, General commanding. 

Grant, not quite certain, however, of its meaning, deter- 
mined to test the question. He dii-ected Thomas to make a 
grand reconnoissance in his front, with his o^ti Chattanooga 
troops, and Howard's coi'ps, which had been brought across 
the river again, for fear of the destruction of the pontons. 
As events proved, this was a most timely movement : one 
division of Buckner s coi-jis had abeady been sent to re- 
enforce Longstreet, and another was just in motion to follow 
it. but was hastily recalled on account of Thomas's attack. 
This preponderance might have been fatal to Bumside. 

Thomas moved forward on the afterno(m of tlu> 23d, in such 
close and well-ordered Unes, that jnisoners from the enemy 
afterwards declared they thought he was preparing for a 
review and a drill. General Wood's division was in front ; 
General Howards coii)s, in reserve ; while General Sheridan's 
di^^sion, of the Fourth, and Palmer's (Fourteenth) corps, also 
stood ready, under arms, to move as might be required. 

15 



226 GRANT AND HIS CAifPAIGNS. 

The heavy giins of Foi*t Wood were opened upon the enemy's 
first position, at the moment General Wood began to move. 

Grant, with Thomas, Granc^er, and Howard, stood upon the 
ramparts of Fort Wood, watching the advance, than which 
nothing could l3e more admii-able. Mo\Tiig forward, •n-ithout 
wavering for a moment, under a hea^'y fire, Wood reached tlu- 
foot of Orchard Knob, a prominent peak, about a mile from 
Fort Wood. There, -Hithout halting, he ordered a charge. 
The summit was carried ; an important point was gained ; and 
an excellent diversion was made in favor of Sherman's coming 
movement. 

On the night of the 23d, a heavy battery M-as taken to the 
captured position from Fort Wood, and our lines wtre sti-ongly 
intrenched. Sheridan was moved up on the right, in echelon ; 
and Palmer also moved forward his coi-ps in support. 

SHERMAN CROSSES AXD TAKES POSITIGN. 

We return to Sherman. At one o'clock in the morning of 
the 24th, concealed by the darkness, three thousand men of 
Sherman's command were conveyed, by the ponton-boats, 
from the mouth of the North Chickamauga to the point 
selected for the bridge. They were safely landed ; and by 
noon of that day two ponton-bridges had been laid — one, 
one thousand four hundred feet long, over the Tennessee, and 
one, two hundred feet long, over the South Chickamauga, to 
open a route for the cavalry. The remainder of his force liad 
been brought down by tlie captured steamer Dunbar, with a 
barge in tow ; and they immediately threw up two strong lines 
of rifle-pits, to protect the approach to the bridge. By day- 
light of tlie 2-4th, eight thousand men of his command were on 
the south side ; and the rest of his force, crossing u]-)on the 
bridge, had reached the north end of Missionary Eidge l)y three 
o'clock, at a ]ioint near the railroad tunnel, and were soon in- 
trenched. That night he still furtlior fortified his position, 
rendering it unassailable by the enemy, and nialdng it a strong 
point of d'l rirture for the grand movement wliich was to take 



THE r.KANI) MOVKMKNT HKOrN. 007 

place tho next day. Tlio injunction of (Icnoral Grant, that 
the raih-oad slioulil l)o destroyed, was obeyed by sending 
Colonel Long, with a brii^adc of cavalry taken from Thomas's 
army. This ofKcer was entirely successful. He moved along 
the Chattanooga and Cleveland Railroad ; burnod Tyner's 
Station ; destroyi-d the depot at Cleveland, and also a valu- 
able gun-cap factory ; and captured one hiindi'ed wagons and 
two hundred prisoners. 

HOOKER CO-OPERATES. 

On the same day, the 2itli, Hooker moved, to carry out his 
part in this gi'eat programme, which may be epitomized tlnis : 
He was to take Lookout Mountain, cross the Chattanooga 
Valley to Ross^-ille, and advance upon Missionary Eidge by the 
Eoss-sille Gap. Howard having been detached, the force with 
which Hooker moved to eficct this was composed of Geary's 
division, of the Twelfth Corps ; a part of Stanley's, of the 
Fourth ; and Osterhaus's, of the Fifteenth. 

Chmbing the precipitous slope of Lookout on the west, he 
drove the enemy from his defences on the northern slope, cap- 
turing a large number of prisoners. This set the seal to the 
raising of the blockade. Steamers now ran unmolested all 
the way from Bridgeport to Chattanooga ; and although the 
Richmond Dispatch disposes of it by saying that Lookout 
Mountain was evacuated because it was no longer important 
after the loss of Lookout Valley, it was, in reality, a new 
defeat for the enemy. 

ALL LEADY .VLONO THE LINE. 

Tuesday, tlic l24th, on which these movements were made, 
was a dark and disagreeable d:iy. liain and mist contended 
f(^r the mastery ; heavy clouds ca])pr(l tlu' bold mountain sum- 
mits, giving a striking natural etl'ect to the battle-clouds 
around ; but a splendid battle-moon — called by General 
Meigs, in happy quotation, " the traitor's doom" — shone out 



228 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

at niglit, and a clearer atmosphere displayed the long line of 
our camp-fii-es, marking the position from Mhich our ti-oops 
were to spring the next day, in glorious triumph, upon the 
enemy. 

It was a sight beyond the power of the painter's art, but 
which may well inspire the pen of the ejaic poet. Sherman 
was on Missionary Eidge, in fi-out of Tunnel Hill, forming the 
left of our line ; Thomas in the centre, at Orchard Knob, and 
occupying the lines to the right and left ; and Hooker was 
coming up on the left, to take part in the grand charge. 

Communications were open between these bodies, fi-om Look- 
out Mountain to the end of Missionary Eidge ; — that between 
Sherman and Thomas being secured by the Eleventh Corps, 
under Howard ; and that between Thomas and Hooker having 
been effected by Carlin, with one brigade, who joined Hooker 
fi'om Chattanooga, not without some resistance from the 
enemy at the crossing of Chattanooga Creek. 

On the night of the 23d, and during a part of the 2-4th, 
General Grant's headquarters were at Fort Wood. The rest of 
the time he was at Orchard Knob or "Indian Hill," fi-om 
which he saw the embattled hosts spread out before him as in 
an amphitheatre ; or else he was riding along the advanced line, 
frequently exposed to shot and shell, but so intent upon the suc- 
cessful carrying out of his plans, and the weight of responsi- 
bility resting upon him, as to be totally unconscious of the 
danger. Everywhere he was the impersonation of an mitu'ing, 
sublime, resistless energy. 

On tlic morning of Wednesday, the 2;jtli of November, 
Hooker, leaving a small force on Lookout ^Mountain to hold 
the position, moved doAvn the western slope into Chattanooga 
Valley, wliich had now been abandontnl by the enemy. It 
was evident that the intention of the rebel general was to 
mass his troops on Sherman's fi-out. Hooker was delayed at 
the creek for three hours, in building the broken bridge upon 
which he was to cross, and move by the Eossville road to the 
ascent of Mission Ridge. In the mean time, an artillery dut 1 
took place l)ftwcen Orchard Knob and Missionarj' Ridge, and 



TIIK (JIIAM) MOVKMKXr l'.K(JUN. O'JD 

from Woods icdnulit a luTCC fire was kept up over the heads 
of our men. It was uow eviih'iit that the rrbcls were con- 
centrating thi'ir forces to crush Sliernuiu, whose Hue lay 
across the mounlain and to the raih'oad-briJgo across Chicka- 
mauga Creek, and thus threatened tlie enemy's stores and the 
raihoad at Chickamauga Station. 

Grant and Bragg were now in entirely now relative positions. 
To the rebel general it was evident that Sherman must be 
driven away, or retreat was inevitable. It was equally Grants 
determination to carry the ridge, and cb'ive Bragg away. To 
confront the rebel masses now thronging the ridge, Grant was 
bringing all liis forces to attack it. Foiled in his strategy, over- 
reached in his grand tactics, Bragg must uow resort to the 
simplest battle-tactics. It was a gi'eat fall ; and if he should 
be beaten even in this, how great the humiliation ! 

From the position occupied by Sherman's line a valley 
stretched in front. Then came another hill, intrenched by the 
enemy, which in turn w"as commanded by a higher hiU, with 
a plunging fire upon the fii'st. Between these two was a 
gorge, through which the raih-oad-timnel passed, and in 
which the enemy sheltered his masses of troops until they 
coidd be brought into action. The enemy had every advan- 
tage of position. 

Sherman's troops were thus disposed in line : The brigades 
of CockereU, Alexander, and Lightbiu-n held the hiU first oc- 
cujiied, as the ke}' -point. Corse's brigade on the narrow 
ridge formed the right centre, and was to be re-enforced, 
in moving to the attack, by one regiment from Lightburn. 
General Morgan L. Smith was to move along the east base 
of Missionary Ridge, connecting with Corse ; while Colonel 
Loomis, supported by the two reserve brigades of General 
John E. Smith, movi-tl along the west base. 

General Sherman's duty was twofold ; — to beat the enemy 
if possible ; and, at all events, to keep him in full force in his 
front, while an attack should be made in another part of the 
fii'ld. The assault of General Corse was entirely successful ; 
while M. L. Smith and Loomis, by gaining ground on the left 



230 GRANT AND HIS CA]SIPAIGXS. 

and right, formed an excellent diversion in favor of the 
assaulting party. Two reserve brigades, which were brought 
up to re-enforce the attacking column on the right, were ex- 
posed to a severe fire in flank in an open field, and fell back 
in some disorder to the edge of the timber,* No better 
service was done on that day than that by Sherman in stem- 
ming the furious attacks of overwhelming rebel masses, and 
in his judicious counter-attacks. His whole conduct on that 
day gives a new application of Bui-ns' homely couplet — 

" \^^iat's done, we partly may compute, 
And partly wliat's resisted." 

Grant was now occupying a post of observation on Indian 
Hill or Orchard Knob, fi-om which he could observe the 
enemy massing heavily against Sherman, and Sherman's 
gallant resistance and counter-attacks. To re-enforce him. 
Grant started Baird's division ; but learning, before it had 
proceeded far, that Sherman could dispense with its ser%dce, 
it was withdraAvn and posted between Wood and Howard. 
Still more regiments did the enemy pour upon our left, now 
firing upon Howard's left and Mathies' brigade. 

THE CONFEDERATES. 

The rebel army was commanded, under Bragg, by Hardee 
and Breckinridge. Hardee, holding their right, embraced 
the divisions of Cleburne, Walker, Cheatham, and Stevenson. 
Walker's division, owing to the temporary absence of its 



* Sherman says in his report : " The movement, seen from Clinttanoop-a, 
five miles oti", gave rise to the report, which even General Mei-^fs had repeated, 
that wc were repulsed on the lel't. Not so. The real attacking column of 
General Corse, Colonel Loomis, and General Smith were not repulsed. They 
engaged in a close struggle all day, ]Mi-sistently, stubhornly, and well. ^Vhl■n 
the two reserve brigades of General John E. Smith fell back as described, the 
enemy made a show of pursuit, but were caught in flank by the well-directed 
fire of our brigade on the wooded crest, and hastily sought his cover behind 
the hill." 



TIIK (ilJA.Ni) .MOVK.MKNT UBilN. 2.'M 

geucral, wasooimnaiuled by Gist. Brockinrid^o, on thoir left, 
lunl his own ilivision, now oonmiiindcd by (lonerul Lewis, and 
those of Stfwait and Hindnian, with a })()ition of ]iuekner's; 
;i foree not etjnal to our own, but haviii;^', in position and 
possession, far more than a couuterbahmee for tlie disparity 
of nnnd)ers. 

AniouLC the generals there was not oik^ military head of a 
supi-rior order. Bragg had the best, but that was neither 
eool nor capable of rapid combinations. Hardee, next in 
order, was an educated soldier, who had even been sent by 
the Government to France to profit by the cavalry training 
there. But, with no efibrt of his own, he had been vastly 
overrated. The tactics called by his name were but an exact 
translation from the French, which could have been made 
by almost any second-lieutenant. He was brave and constant, 
but not equal to any Federal coi-ps commander on that field. 
Breckinridge had no claims to generalsjiip, as few political 
generals on either side have had ; and Buckner was known as 
the only general who had the manliness to remain and sur- 
lendev Fort Donelson, which Floyd should have held. Many 
writers overestimate the power and talent of their enemy, La 
order iudu'ectly to exalt their heroes. Conformity with truth 
compels us to say that the rebels were gi-eatly outgeneralled. 
Grant's natural gifts were vastly superior to those of Bragg, 
and Grant's generals found no match in the rebel ranks. 

BRAGG's TACnC.VL ERROR. 

With a singular fatality, Bragg had now committed, in a 
tactical form, an error quite as great as that which he had 
made strategically by detaching Longstreet ; an error which 
Grant had been temjiting him to commit. 

In strengthening his right, in order to crush Sherman, ho 
had foolishly weakened his centre; and Grant immediately 
took advantage of it. 

As the allied armies at Austerlitz had committed the great 
fault of imcovering their centre in order to Hank Napoleon's 



232 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

right, so had Bragg done, to crush Grant's left ; and, as the 
emjieror waited until the movement was fairly completed, 
before he hurled Soult into the gap, thus did Grant stand in 
readiness to push Thomas" and Hooker forward, and break 
the enem^-'s line m-etrievably. Our troops fought magnifi- 
cently, but the field was won by tactical superiority. 

WATTING FOR HOOKER. 

And now all eyes were fixed upon the direction in Avhich 
Hooker was to approach, for the appearance of the head of 
his column in the Eossville road was to be ' the signal for the 
grand storming. Hooker, as we have seen, was unavoidably 
detained by the broken bridge across Chattanooga Creek ; 
but no time had been lost in rebuilding it : indeed the Twent}'- 
seventh Missouri, of Osterhaus's division, had run across upon 
the stringers as soon as they were laid. 

At length Hooker approaches. It is now half-past three. 
Grant, Thomas, and other generals are conferring for a mo- 
ment, and the result is an order which places the ti'oops in 
readiness for movement. Twenty minutes to foiu", and fi'om a 
battery at which the gunners have been waiting with ill-con- 
cealed impatience, the signal-guns agreed upon are fii'ed, — a 
regular salute, one — two — thi-ee — four — five — six ! 

THE STORMIXG OF THE PJDGE. 

Number six has hardly sounded his brazen note, before 
the inert mass is instinct with life. The skirmishers of Wood 
and Sheridan are away, followed by the fiery lines. All the 
forts and batteries bellow their harsh thunder over the heads 
of our men. Nothing can impair theii* ardor. They realize 
Bp'on's 

" Fiory ninss 
Of living valor ri)lling on the ftx*." 

They charge the rille-pits at tlie foot of the ridge. On the 



THE CiUANI) MOVK.MKNT BHOUN. 'j:{3 

left of Wood moves BaircVs division, under their gallant 
leader, while Johnston leads his division in line on the ri;^ht 
of Sheridan. Thev have no orders to go further than the 
foot of tlie ridgt', Imt wlirii thcy seo the enemy swarming 
like bees out of the ritie-pits, and flying hefore them, thty 
do not stop for orders. Thcy halt but a moment to re-form, 
and then, in spite of a terrible storm of soughing shot, scream- 
ing shell, pattering canister, and whizzing V)ullets, they dash 
forward to storm the height. An aid-de-camp follows them, 
crying out, " Take the ridge, if you can ;" but it was an 
order to sanction what they were abeady doing. 

The lines ascend the hill in many wedge-forms, the advan- 
cing colors in the forward angle of each. The artillery, from 
our positions, fires furiously over the heads of our men. A gun 
fi'om Orchard Knob, sighted by General Granger in person, 
explodes a rebel caisson on the lidge. The enemy, in suqirise 
and confusion, fire too high, and do less damage to our men 
than might have been expected. 

It is now evident to the excited beholder that the color- 
bearers are nmuing a race. The men partake of the enthu- 
siasm, imtil all are at a white heat. Each regiment strains 
forward to place its colors first upon the rebel battlements. 
Let all win. Many regiments have claimed the honor, but 
those who have the best right to judge, have declared that it 
is impossible to discover what color-bearer first planted the 
stars and stripes upon the enemy's works. 

Just as the sun is sinking in the west, the great sea of 
Union soldiers bursts upon the rebel ridge, and the day is 
oius. To the searcher among mihtary picturesques, there is 
no more splendid scene than this in any war ; — the wild moun- 
tain scenery ; the crests gilded by the slanting light ; the 
ravines and valleys in shadow ; the thunder of battle, the 
shouts of Aactory, and the great sun, seeming to pause for a 
moment, to take in the story which he was to tell as lie 
joiirneyed to the Western lands, and which the whole world 
was to leani and never forget. 

The rebels throw down their arms by regiments. Om* sol- 



234 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

diers, in their battle-rage, bayonet the cannoneers at their 
guns. In an instant the guns are turned upon the fleeing foe. 
Bragg and Breckiniidge barely escape capture ; theii- flying 
horses are seen as Wood and Sheridan ride ui^ou the heights. 



HOOKERS ATTACK. 

At the same time that the troops of Granger and Palmer, 
under Sheridan and Wood, were thus storming the enemy's 
heights. Hooker's forces came up through the gap on the 
Eossville road, full upon the left flank of the enemy, while 
Johnston charged in fi-ont ; but the rebels were ah-eady so 
demoraUzed that they ofi'ered but a feeble resistance. 

A final eh'ort was made by the rebels upon Tuix-hin's brigade 
of Baii'd's division ; but although most fiercely kd by their 
officers, who seemed to have devoted themselves to death, it 
was unsuccessful.* 

If Bragg had failed as a general, he certainly exerted him- 
self as a soldier to rally and reform his men. He was exposed 
to a severe fixe, and the danger of capture ; but he and his 
staff-officers were the last to leave the ridge. 

The captured positions were now scenes of the wildest ex- 
citement ; shouts and cheers rang out, and echoed fi'om 
mountain-top to mountain-top, for a distance of six miles ; 
while the stars and stripes fluttered telegraphic signals to 
each other along the whole line. Among the most distin- 
iniished of the generals who led the advance, where all were 
distinguished, were Wood and Sheridan, " Soldiers," said 
the former,. as he rode along the line of his troops, "you were 
ordered to take the rebel rifle-pits at the foot of the hill. You 

* Pollard says : " We (the enemy) ought to have won the day, especially 
considering the advantages of our |K)sition, by which the ranks of the enemy 
were ex])Osed to an artillery fire while in the iilain, and to an infantry fire 
when they attempted the ascent of the mountain." And again : " A disgraceful 
panic ensued ; the whole left wing of the Confederates became involved, gave 
way, and scattered in unmitigated rout. The day was lost, and shamefully 
lost." 



THE GRAND MOVEMKXT BEGUN. 2:55 

(lid SO ; and tlion, without orders, yon imsliod forward, and 
took all the enemy's works on to}). Here is a tin<> cliance for 
having you all court-niartialled ; and I will appear as principal 
witness against you, unless you pn^mise mo one thing, and 
that is, that y(»u will eontinur to hold them against all oppo- 
sition of Bragg, Johnston, Jell". Davis, and the thivil !" 

Sheridan's horse was killed under him, and " Litth; Phil" 
mounted at once a captured gun, to gain tiie necessary eleva- 
tion. He displayed that splendid mixture of coolness and 
dash which have since made him famous on the final fields of 
the war. 

THE FIGHT ENDED, AND THE PURSUIT BEGUN. 

Nightfall put an end to the fighting, and precluded a gen- 
eral pursuit ; but Sheridan pushed on without delay to Mis- 
sion Mills. By twelve o'clock that night, Bragg had aban- 
doned all his positions on Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga 
Valley, and Missionary Ridge, and his army was in rapid motion 
on the road to Ringgold, and thence to Dalton. He left be- 
hind him six thousand prisoners, besides stragglers who were 
picked up for several days afterwards, forty guns, upwards of 
seven thousand small-arms, and a quantity of ammunition.* 



* Ni> Spartan dispatches during the Peloponnesian war could have been 
more hiconic than the terms in which the rival couimanucrs announced the 
tidings to their respective governments. Grant writes to Ilalkck (^mark the 
caution and moilesty) : 

•• Although the battle lasted from early dawn till dark this evening, IhelUte 
I am not premature in announcing a comple tictury onr Bragg. 

" Lookout Mountain-top, all the ritie-pits in Chattanooga Valley, and Mission- 
ary Ridgo entire have been carried, and are now held by us. 

" U. S. GuAST, Major-Genoral." 

Bragg writes to General Cooper, from Chickaniauga (mark the suppreasio 
veri) : 

" After several unsuccessful assaults on our lines to<lay, thf eni-my carried 

the left centre alx>ut four o'clock. I'he whole left soon gare icity in eonniderable 

dixorcUr. Tlie right maintained its ground, ami repellcil every attack. I am 

withdrawing all to this point. 

" BU.VXT<JX BUAOG." 



236 GRANT AND HIS CA.MPAJGNS. 

Early the next morning, Sherman pursued the enemy by 
way of Chickamauga Station on the Dalton Eaih'oad ; while 
Hooker and Palmer moved on the Kossville road, to strike the 
raili-oad between Gray^'ille and Eiuggold. At the latter place 
Bragg had posted Cleburne in the gorge of the "VMiite Oak 
Eidge, and on the crest of Tajior's Kidge. And here a 
severe battle ensued. The enemy's forces were concealed 
until we were within a few paces of his guns, and in conse- 
quence we suffered severely. But this was only a Parthian 
shot, for he was soon driven away to Tunnel Hill, twenty miles 
from Chattanooga. 

Great generals are only amenable to be criticised as to their 
strategy and tactics, but a special interest attaches to their 
personaHty. We are not content to know only their plans and 
their successes ; we desu'e also to be told of their appearance 
and personal conduct on the field of war. The emasculated 
Saxe in his carriage ; Napoleon at the bridge of Areola ; Wolfe, 
already twice wounded, leading the Highlanders to the last 
assault on the Heights of Abraham, have a pecuhar charm for 
all readers. We are not without a record of Grant's bearing 
at Chattanooga. One of his staflf writes : 

" It has been a matter of universal wonder in this army that 
General Grant himself was not killed, and that no more acci- 
dents occurred to his stafi' ; for the general was always in the 
front (his staff mth him, of coui'se), and perfectly heedless of 
the storm of hissing bullets and screaming shell flying aroimd 
him. His apparent want of sensibility does not arise fi'om 
heedlessness, heartlessness, or vain military affectation, but 
from a sense of the responsibility resting upon him when in 
battle. When at Pdnggold, we rode for half- a mile in the face 
of the enemy, under an incessant fire of cannon and musketry ; 
nor did we ride fast, but upon an ordinar}- trot ; and not once 
do I believe did it enter the general's mind that he was in 
danger. I was by his side, and watched him closely. In 
riding that distance we were going to the fi'ont, and I coidd 
Bce that he was studying the positions of the two armies ; and. 



THE (iKAND .M< )V!:.MKNT lilJil N. 237 

of course, planninf:^ liow to dofoat tlio enemy, wlio was hero 
inakin}2f a most dosporato stand, and was slauj^htering our men 
fearfully." 

THE PURSUIT DISCONTINUED. 

Davis's division of Sherman's column came nji to Rin^^gold 
at noon of the same day ; and Howaid's coq^s was sent over 
to Red Clay, to destroy the railroad between Cleveland and 
Dalton. On the 27th, the Fifteenth Corps eflfectually de- 
stroyed the railroad from a point near Ringgold to the State 
line ; and then Sherman was permitted to send back his train, 
and make a sweep to the north as far as the Hiawassee. This 
was the end of the Chattanooga campaign. Had it not been 
for the necessity of rehe\'ing Burnside in Knoxville, Grant 
would have made an unrelenting piu'suit, and utterly destroyed 
the demoralized array of Bragg ; but the two were incompati- 
ble. Burnsido*liad declared that his supplies woidd only last 
until the 3d of December, and Knoxville could not be aban- 
doned ; so Bragg was permitted to save himself l)y a rapid 
retreat, biu-ning the raili-oad behind him as he went. 

COMMENTS. 

If we look back at this gi'eat theatre, and the scenes enacted 
upon it, we find no military common-places ; every feature of 
it was very striking. It was a battle-field of the Titans, ex- 
ttnding for six miles on Missionary Ridge, and five on Lookout 
Mountain. The movements and combinatit)ns were consum- 
mately planned and magnificently executed, with clockwork 
precision. It called forth the encomiums of the best military 
uiinds in the world. General Halleck, in a supi)lementary re- 
port, used the following language : " Considering the strength 
of the rebel ])osition, and the difficulty of storming his in- 
trenchmeuts, the battle of Chattanooga must be regarded as 
one of the most rcmarkaUe in history. Not oul}' did the officei-s 
and men exhibit great skill and daring in their operations t)u 



238 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

the field, but the liighest praise is also due to the commanding 
general, for his admu-able dispositions for dislodging the 
enemj from a position apparently impregnable. Moreover, 
liv tiu-ning his right flank, and throAving him back upon Ring- 
gold and Dalton, Sherman's forces were interposed between 
Bragg and Longstreet, so as to prevent any possibility of their 
forming a junction." 

Quartermaster-General Meigs, who was on the field, bears 
his testimony thus : " Not so well-du-ected and well-ordered a 
battle has taken place during the war." 

Upon these hints we speak. The rebeUion was again 
pierced through its centre ; the way was opened for Sherman's 
magnificent campaign ; the fall of Savannah, and the capture 
of Charleston, were foreshadowed ; and the end of the rebel- 
lion, ah-eady a foregone conclusion, was rapidly hurried for- 
ward. The " question of time" was nearing its solution. 

Other volumes must and will contain the records of the dis- 
tinguished gelierals Avho here served under Grant : Thomas, 
the embodiment of prudence and rock-like courage ; Sher- 
man, of tireless brain, and equally tireless hand ; Hooker, who 
retrieved at Chattanooga the disasters of Chancellorsville ; 
Howard, the best type of the Christian soldier ; brave Gran- 
ger ; constant Palmer ; gallant Wood, and dashing Sheridan. 
Romantic pens will never tire of describing the picturesques 
of the great war in this Switzerland of America. Economists 
will show how we despoiled the enemy of his largest nitre and 
coal beds ; and thus, by cutting off his resources, crippled his 
energies. The quick inventive genius of William F. Smith 
will not be forgotten. Of him General Grant said, in recom- 
mending him for promotion, that he " felt under more than 
ordinary obhgations to the masterly manner in which he had 
discharged his duties ;" and General Sherman attributed the 
ease and timeliness of his crossing the Tennessee to his genius 
and intelligence. Wo neglect none : they were all glorious. 
Nay, more ; we cannot help pit^-ing the utter discomfiture of 
Bragg, while we admire his bravery. 

Impartial history will bo j\ist to all the acts and the actors, 



THE (JIJAND MOVFMKNT BF.OITN. 230 

but nltovo tlicm nil will sliino, in froMon cliaractcrs, tlio nariH- 
of the groat ooiiuiiandor who, upon the liccls of ouo f,T<>at con- 
quest, transformed a beleaj^icrcd army of starving soldiers into 
fiery columns of attack, and snatched an immortal victory out 
of the jaws of disaster and anticipated rain. That man was 
Gr.vnt. 

We close this chapter with General Meigs' disi>atch to the 
Secretary of "War, to which we have ab'cady referred : 

IlEAnQCARTEns CnATTANOOoA, November 26, 1863. 
Edwtn M. Stanton, Sernlurt/ of War : 

Sm — On the 2^(1 instant, at half-past eleven A. M., General Grant ordered 
a demonstration ajrainst Missionarj' Ridge, to develop the force holding it. 
The troops marched out, formed in order, and advanced in liiv "t i.itfif. n« if 
on parade. 

The rebels watched the formation and movement from t;nir i'i(ket-line.<» 
and rifle-jiitx, and from the summits of Missionarj- Ridge, five himdred feet 
al)ove us, and thougltt it teas a review and drill, so openly and deliberately, so 
regular, vas it all done. 

The line advanced, preceded by skirmishers, and at two o'clock P. M. 
reached our picket-lini-s, and opened a rattling volley upon the rebel pickets, 
who replied, and ran into their advanced line of rifle-pits. After them went 
our skirmishers, and into them, along the centre of the line of twenty.five thou- 
sand trofjps which General Thomas had so quickly displayed, until we opened 
lire. Pris<iner8 assert that they thought the whole movement was a review 
and genenil drill, and that it was too late to send to their camps for re-enforce- 
ments, and that they were overwhelmed by force of i umbers. It was a surprise 
in open daylight. 

At three P. m., the important advanced position of Orchard Knob and the 
lines right and left were in our possession, and arrangements were ordered for 
holding them during the night. 

The next day, at daylight. General Sherman had five thousand men across 
the Tennessee, and established on its south bank, and comnu'nc».-d the construc- 
tion of a jMinton-bridgc about six miles al)ovc C'iiattan»«ga. Tlie reln-l steani<T 
Dunbar was repaired at the right moment, and rendered eflVctive aid in this 
crossing, carrying over six thousand men. 

By nightfall, General Sherman had seized the extremity of .Mi.-*sionary 
Ridge nearest the river, and was intrenching himself. General Ilowjird, with 
ft brigade, opined communication with him from Chattanooga on the south 
side of the river. Skirmisliing and cannonading continued all <lay on the left 
niid centre. General Hooker scalt-d the slopi-s of Lookout Moimtain. and from 
t'.i'- valley of L(K»kout Creek drove the reb«'ls around the point. Hu captured 



240 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

Bome two thousand prisoners, and established himself high up the raountajn 
side, in full view of Chattanooga. This raised the blockade, and now steamers 
were ordered from Bridgeiwrt to Chattanooga. They had run only to Kelley's 
Ferry, whence ten miles of hauling over mountain roads, and twice across the 
Tennessee on ponton-bridges, brought us our supplies. 

All night the point of Missionary Ridge on the extreme left, and the side 
of Lookout Mountain on the extreme right, blazed with the cami>fire8 of loyal 
troops. 

The day had been one of dense mists and rains, and much of Oeneral Hook- 
er's battle was fought above the clouds, which concealed him from our view, but 
from which his musketrj- was heard. 

At nightfall the sky cleared, and the full moon — "the traitor's doom" — 
shone upon the beautiful scene, until one a. m., when twinkling sparks uiwn 
the mountain side showed that picket skirmishing was going on. Then it 
ceased. A brigade sent from Chattanooga crossed the Chattanooga Creek and 
opened communication with Hooker. 

General Grant's headquarters during the afternoon of the 2M and the day 
of the 2ith were in Wood's redoubt, except tchen in the course of the day he rode 
along the advanced line, visiting the headquarters of the several commanders in 
VJuittanooga VaUey. 

At daylight on the 25th the stars and stripes were descried on the peak of 
Lookout. The rebels had evacuated the mountain. 

Hooker moved to descend the moimtain, striking Missionary Ridge at the 
Rossville Gap, to sweej) both sides and its summit. 

The rebel troops were seen, as soon as it was light enough, streaming regi- 
ments and brigades along the narrow summit of Mitssionary Ridge, either con- 
centrating on the right to overwhelm Sherman, or marching for the railroad to 
raise the siege. 

They had evacuated the Valley of Chattanooga. Would they abandon that 
of Chickamauga '? 

Tlie twenty-pounders and four-and-a-quarter inch rifles of Wood's redoubt 
opened on Missionary Ridge, which with rifled Parrott's answered, and the 
cannonade, thus commenced, continued all day. Shot and .^hell screamed from 
Orchard Knob to Mi.xsionary Ridge, and from Missionary Ridge to Orchanl 
Knob, and from Wood's redoubt, ovi r the heads of Generals Grant and Thomas 
and their stajfs, trho were xcith us in this favorable position, from whence the 
wfiole battle could be seen as in an amphitheatre. Tlie htadqunrters were under 
fire all day long. 

Cannonading and musketry were heard frmn (leniTul Sherman, and General 
Howard marched the Eleventh Corps to join him. 

General Thomas sent out skirmishers, who drove in the rebel pickets nml 
chased them into their intnnchments ; and at the foot of Missionary Ridge 
Sherman made an assault against Bragg's right, intrenched on a high kni)l> 
next to that on which Sherman himself lay fortified. The assault was gallantly 
made. 



TlIK OIJAND MOVEMENT HEOUN. 241 

Slirrmnn nnrlKxi the cdpi- of tho rrt-st, nnd liol<l his pround for (it secmnd 
to mc) an lioiir, but \vnx hI<xKiily ropulwd l)_v rtwrvrs.* 

A ptntnil ndvanro was onlcnnl, nnd n 8tron>^ lino of Hkinnislicrs followed 
hy a di'iiloycd lino of hattlo, nomc two miles in Icnj^th. At tht! nif^al of leaden 
abota from lu'iKhiuurtcra on Orclmrd Knob, the lino moved rapidly and orderly 
forward. Tlif rebel pirketa discharged their musketa and ran into their rifle- 
pits. Our skirmishers followed on their heels, 

Tlie line of battle was not far btdiind, nnd we saw the pray rel)els swarm 
out of the ledge line of rifle iiita and over the base of the hill in numbtra which 
surprised us. A few turned and fired their pieces; but the gn-ater number 
collected into the many roads which cross obliquely up its steep face, and went 
on to the top. 

Some regiments pressed on and swarmed up tlie steep sides of the ridge, 
uid here and there a color was advanced beyond the lines. Tho attempt ap- 
peared most dangerous ; but the advance was supported, and the whole line 
was ordered t<i storm the heights, ujxm which not Ics-s than forty pieces of ar- 
tillery, and no one knew how many muskets, stood ready t" slaughter the as- 
sailants. With cheers answering to cheers the men swarmed uj>\vards. They 
gathrred to the points least difficult of ascent, and tho line was broken. Color 
after color was planted on tho summit, while musket and cannon vomited their 
thunder ujK)n them. 

A well-directed shot from Orchard Knob explodid a rebel cai.sson on the 
summit, and the gun was seen being si)etdily taken to the right, its driver 
lashing liis horses. A party of our soldiers intercepted them, and the gun waa 
captured with cheers. 

A fierce mvisketry fight broke out to the left, where, between Thomas and 
Sherman, a mile or two of the ridge was still occupied by the rebels. 

Bragg left the house in which he had held his headquarters, nnd rode to tho 
rear as our troops crowded the hill on either side of him. 

General Grant proceeded to tlie summit, and then only did we know itt 
height. 

Some of the captured artillerj' was put into position. Artillerists were sent 
for to work the guns, and caissons were searched for ammunition. 

The rebel log-breastworks were torn to pieces, and carried to the other side 
of the ridge, and used in forming barricades across. 

A strong line of infantry was formed in the rear of Baird's line, and engaged 
in a musketry contest with the rebels to tho left, and a secure lodgment waa 
soon effected. 

The other assault, to the right of our centre, gained tho summit, and tho 
rebels threw down their arms and fled. 

Hooker, coming into favorable position, swept tho right of tlio ridge, and 
capturetl many prisoners. 

Bragg's remaining troops lefl cariy in tho night, and tht battle of ChatUx- 

• As wr bKTc eUewbrrc tlat«d, 0«D«rftl Sbermui dcnin tbb repabc 



2^ GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

nooga, after days of marusuvring and fighting, was won. The strength of the 
rebellion in the centre is broken. Bumside is relieved from danger in East 
Tennessee. Kentucky and Tennessee are rescued. Georgia and the S'jutheast 
are threatened in t/te rear, -VNd ajjotheb victory is added to tiie chapter 
OF " Unc<jnditioxal S^JRRE^-DER Grant." 

To-night, the estimate of captures is several thousand prisoners, and thirty 
pieces of artillery. 

Our loss, for so great a victory, is not sevei'e. 

Bragg is firing the railroad as he retreats towards Dalton. Sherman is in 
hot pursuit. 

To-day I viewed the battle-field, which extends for six miles along Mission- 
ary Ridgt', and for several miles on Lookout Mountain. 

Pi'dbably not so well-directed, so well-ordered a battle, has taken "place during 
the war. But one assault was repulsed ; but that assault, by calling to that 
point the rebel reserves, prevented them repulsing any of the others. 

A few days since, Bragg sent to General Grant a flag of truce, advising liim 
that it would be prudent to remove any non-combatants who might be still in 
< hattanooga. No reply has been returned ; but the combatants having re- 
moved from the vicinity, it is probable that non-combatants can remain with- 
out imprudence. 

M. C. Meigs, Quartermaster-General. 



BURNSIDIO AT KxNOXVILLE. 243 



CHAPTER XXI. 

BURNSIDE AT K^OX^TLLE. 

His kxtrance into Knoxville — Fortifies tiik towx — Advances to luke 1-ono- 
stkkkt on— l.onosn-keet invests and attacks — kerclsed. — ke enfokcemknts 
ruoM (1 KANT.— Sherman comes up. — Grant's order. — Summary ok losses. 

We nm.st now turn for a moment to Knoxville, besiej^ed by 
the yet hopeful, but soon to bo ill-starred, expedition of 
Lonffstroot. This jilaco had liccn occupied by Burnside as 
early as the 2d of September, and Burnsiile was a lorn in dnnis, 
holding over until Foster shoidd relieve him. 

On the 16th of August he had moved from Camp Nelson, in 
Kentucky, on a perilous march for East Tennessee, then held 
by the rebel General Buckner, whose headquarters were at 
Knoxville. Avoiding the gaps, which were in the enemy's 
hands, Burnside marched across the mountains. On the 1st 
of September he was at Kingston, and on the 2d he entered 
Knoxville, amid the grateful cheers of the loyal people, who 
had been ^^Tithing under the oppression and cmeltv of rebel 
rule. The enthusiasm was unbounded as the general rode in : 
he was regarded as a deliverer and a savior. On the 4th, 
(fen»Tal Shackelford was dispatched northward to Cund)er- 
land Clap, which, after a rapid and skilful march, he cap- 
tun^d on the 9th. 

Knoxville was at once strongly fortified by Buniside; and 
then, previous to Longstreets advance, he had moved south- 



244 GRAKT AND HIS CA:MPAIGNS. 

ward by Grant's orders to Loudon, tliere to await and retard 
the rebel approach. 

This part of the rebel programme could not have been con- 
fided to a more competent officer than Longstreet, but he has 
since complained that he was sent without proper supplies, 
and was disappointed in the force with which he was expected 
to make the siege. The division of Stevenson, which had 
been sent to Loudon, and which he expected to take with him, 
was recalled. Ho still, however, largely outnumbered the 
small force under Burnside. 

At Loudon he was met by Burnside, and arrested in his 
march ; and his cavalry, which he had sent by a detour to try 
and surprise Knoxville, was met and routed by ours, which 
had been skilfully posted for the purpose. In obedience to 
orders, the Federal general retreated slowly towards Knox- 
ville. Again Burnside turned to confront him at Campbell's 
Station, and having repulsed his attack, withdrew at last 
within his fortifications at Knoxville. Tliere he was sur- 
rounded by Longstreet, on the 17th and 18th of November ; 
and now the fate of Knoxville hung upon the movements at 
Chattanooga. Nothing was left for Burnside but to hold it to 
the last. His arrangements were well made. There was a 
fort on College Hill ; one near Summit House ; one on the 
right of the street leading from the square to the depot ; two 
on Temperance Hill ; and the heights on the south were forti- 
fied. Strong lines of rifle-pits connected the forts. 

LONGSTREET ATTACKS. 

At length, on the 28th of November, Longstreet having 
been informed of Bragg's disaster and retreat, and knowing 
that Biirnside would soon be re-enforced, made ready for an 
assault, which would either give him Knoxville, or — what was 
far more likely — serve to cover his retreat. The point chosen 
was Fort Sanders, on the northwest angle of our works, a fort 
standing just outside llic iowii, ami commanding an approach 
by the river. It was of the strongest profile, the ditch ten 



BriLNSlDK AT KNOXVILI.K. 245 

foct (loop, iind tli(! piirapct unusuully lii^;li. Around it, tho 
thick pino-timber luul bfi-n sliislu'd, aiul it is said, a network 
of wire formed aroimd the stumps, as an entanglement.* 

The assault was made in the most determined manner, at 
dajli^'ht on the 2'.Hli, by three brif^'ades of McLaws' ilivision, 
and those of Wolford, Humphreys, Anderson, and Bryant. 
They moved in three lines ; and some of them reached the 
outer slope, and even attempted to enter by the end)rasures. 
The fort was occujjied by the Seventy-ninth New York, tho 
Twentj'-ninth Massachusetts, two companies of the Second 
New York, and one of the Twentieth Michi<^'an. Their guns were 
double-shotted. Hand-grenades were pourt'd upon the enemy. 
His assault was also clearl}- discerned by the novel use of 
Roman candles, in default of :i Drunimond light. t The fighting 
was more desperate than any known in the war. But the rebel 
edbrts were vain ; and when they were finally repulsed, their 
dead and wouniled lay in piles ten feet deep in the ditch. A 
gallant assault, most gallantly repulsed ; and the failure left 
no course for Longstreet but instant retreat. This, of course, 
had been his alternative, and he put it in ])ractice without 
delay. 

RE-ENFORCEMENTS FROM GRANT. 

On the evening of November 25, as soon as Grant's success 
at Chattanooga had been assured, he had directed Gordon 
Granger to move with his own (Fourth) corps, and detach- 
ments from others — twenty thousand in all — to the relief of 
Knox^-ille ; and Sherman's march to the railroad cro.ssint; of 
the Hiawassee was intended to protect (Jranger's Hank until ho 
had crossed, and to prevent further re-enforcements of tho 
enemy from being sent by that route into East Tennessee. 
Granger was to move with four days' rations, a steamer follow- 



* Pollard. Third Year of the War. p. 102. 

t For th«' curious application of th.-se sipnal li^'liU", by Lii-ut<^nant Ilorxog, 
of the Signal C<ir|«, 8oe an article in the October number (lbG5) of the United 
States Service Magazina 



246 GRANT AND HIS CA^IPAIQNS. 

ing with more supplies. Elliot had also been ordered to 
Knoxville, from Alexandria, with his cavalry division. 

To Grant's astonishment, on his return from the front, on 
the 28th, he found that Granger had not started, and that he 
was preparing to move " with reluctance and complaint." As 
no investigation has been made, we are not " wise above what 
is written," but simply quote the words of Grant's report. 

Sherman, ever ready, was at once directed to assume com- 
mand of Granger's corps as well as his owti troops, and pro- 
ceed to Knoxville without delay. Sherman was then at Cal- 
houn, at the raUroad crossing of the Hiawassee. The rehef 
was confided to the ablest hands. It was a toilsome march 
but Sherman was never tired, and always full of alacrity. 

SHERMAN EXTE];S KNOXVILLE. 

On the 3d of December, the day upon which Burnside had 
declared that his suppHes would give out, Sherman's cavalry 
entered Knoxville. The flank of Longstreet was thus turned, 
and although the siege had been already raised, Longstreet's 
movements were greatly expedited. The rebel general retired 
hastily to Russelville and Eogersville. Sherman conferred 
with Burnside as to the necessary strength of a pursuing force. 
It was decided that the garrison, augmented by Granger's 
corps, would be sufficient, and that the other forces might be 
at once -withdrawn. Burnside, in a letter dated December 7, 
expressed his " hearty thanks and gratitude" to Sherman and 
his command, whose approach, he declared, " served to raise 
the siege." Lea^^Ilg Granger's corps behind, Sherman then 
took his own command back to Chattanooga. After all these 
events had transpired, Grant issued an order of congratulation, 
which we give in full, as indicating his sentiments, and as a 
specimen of his clear and excellent style : 

General Orders, No. 9. 

Headquarters Military Divisiox of the Mississippi, 
III the Field, CliiUtunoosTft, Teiin., Dec. 10, 18C3. 
The general commanding takea this opportunity of returning his sincere 
thankB and congratulations to the brave Armies of the Cumberland, the Ohio, 



BURNSIDE AT KNOXVILLR 247 

thp Tt>nno8sce, and thoir coinradt-s fmm thi< Potomar, for thf> rocrnt Bplondid 
and decisive micccsscs achicvcxl over tlic rnotny. In a shnrt tinn\ you havo 
rocovcrtHi fnmi him tlie control of the Tennctwi-o Rivor from Bridg<'p«^)rt to 
Knoxville. You dislodged him from his great stronghold u[x)n Lookout 
Mountain ; drove him from Chattanooga Valley ; wnst.-d from his deter 
mined grasp the possession of Missionary Uidgc ; rtp<llcd. with luavy loss to 
him, his rejx'ated assaults upon Knnxvillo, forcing him to rais*- thn sifge there ; 
driving him at all points, utterly routed and discomfited, beyond the limits of 
the State. Hy your noble hen)i8m and determined courage, you have mnet 
effectually dcf.atrd the plans of the enemy for regaining possession of the States 
of Kentucky and Tennessi'e. You have secured positions from which no rebel- 
lious power can drive or dislodge you. For all this, the general commanding 
thanks you, collectively and indi\-idually. The loyal people of the United 
States thank and l)less you. Their hopes and prayers for your success against 
this unholy rebellion are with you daily. Their faith in you will not be in 
vain. Tluir hopes will not be blasted. Their i)rayers to Alniiglity God will 
be answcretl. You will yet go to other fields of strife ; and with the invincible 
bravery and unflinching loyalty to justice and right which have characterized 
you in the past, you will prove that no enemy can withstand you, and that no 
defences, however formidable, can check your onward march. 

By order of 

Major-General U. S. Grant. 
T. S. Bowers, A. A. G 

In a summary of the entire campaign, General Grant states 
our losses to have been seven hundred and fifty-seven killed ; 
four thousand five hundred and twenty-nine wounded ; and 
three hundred and thirty missing. The captures liave been 
already stated. 

The failure at Chattanooga cost General Bragg his com- 
mand. He was relieved, " at his own request," on the 2d of 
December, and the conduct of the army given to Hardee, who 
knew his own unfitness, and would only accept it temporarilv. 
Grant expressed his satisfaction with the change : it made his 
task the easier. A few words will enable us to take leave of 
Bragg. He was " charged," very vaguely, " with the conduct 
of the military operations of the arniits of the Confrdoracy," 
— which means every thing, or nothing,— and turned up at 
the last as commander in North Carolina, when Fort Fisher 
fell. 



248 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 



CHAPTER XXn. 

GREAT JOY IN THE LAND. 
Th« President's proclamation. — Public honors. — The gold mkdal.— A lied- 

TENANT-GENERAL PROPOSED. — SOCIETIES.— NAMESAKES. — NeW LABORS. — ViSITB 

Cumberland Gap. — At Nashville. — To Chattanooga. — Visits St. Louis. — 
The banquet. — Thank.s of the city. 

The news of the great victory at Chattanooga, followed by 
the intelligence of the signal defeat of Longstreet, carried 
great rejoicing into the loyal States. Again there were illu- 
minations and salutes. The faith of the wavering was con- 
firmed ; patriot hearts were reassured ; the people of the 
South began to lose hope of the issue ; and the cause of the 
rebellion fell rapidly in the opinion of political speculators, 
both at home and abroad. The President of the United 
States, with a devout heart, issued, on tlie 7th of December, a 
proclamation, recommending to all loyal people to assemble in 
their places of worship, and thank God " for this gi-eat ad- 
vancement to the national cause." 

He also sent another of liis sententious and expressive dis- 
patches to Grant, who embodied it in orders, and caused it to 
be read by the adjutants to all the regiments in his army. It 
was as follows : 

Waphington, December 8, 1868. 
Major-Gen ERAX, Grant: 

Understanding that your lodgment at Chattanooga and Knoxvillo is now 

Bocure, I wish to tender you, and all under your command, my more than 

thanks — my profovmdest gratitude — for the skill, courage, and perseverance 

with which you and they, over so great difficulties, have effected that important 

object. God bletss you all 1 A. Lincoln. 



GREAT JOY IN TIIK LAND 249 



PUBIJC HONORS. 

The Conr^ess of tho Uuittd States, which was just begin- 
ning its session, was not slow in expressing its ajiprecia- 
tion of liis distiugiiished services. A joint resohition, intro- 
duced into the lower house by his friend, Mr. Washburne, of 
lUinois, expres.sed the thanks of the Congress, and ])resentcd 
him a gold medal. It was put upon the military record by a 
general order of the War Dej)artment, dated December 21, 
18G3, and is couched in the following words : 

Qexeral Orders, No. 398. 

Jourr REBOLmoN of thanli to Major- Gentral Uly*»<» S. Grant and the ojictrt and *ol- 
ditrs tcho hace/'/U'jht under his command during t'lis rtbetiion ; and providing that 
the Pitsident of the United States xhall cause a medial to be struck, to be prtsentsd 
to ilojor- General Grant in the name of the people of the United States of Arnei tea. 

lie it regolttd, hij Vie Senate and Souse of liepresentativei of the United State* 
of Amerioj, in Congress assembled. That tlie thanks of Congress be, and they 
hen^by are, presented to Major-Oeneral Ulysses S. Grant, and throui^h him to 
the officers and soldiers who have fought under his command during this 
rebellion, for tlieir gallantry and good conduct in the battles in which they 
have been engaged ; and that the President of the United States be requested 
to cause a gold medal to be struck, with suitable emblems, devices, and inscripy- 
tions, to be presented to Major-General Grant.* 

Sec. 2. And be it further resolved, That, when the said medal shall have 
been struck, the President shall cause a copy of this joint resolution to be en- 
grossed on parclirai^'nt, and shall transmit tho same, together with the said 
me«lal, t^) Major-General Grant, to be presented to him in tlu; name of the 
ptujple of the United States of America. 

Sec. 3. And be it further resolved, That a sufficient sum of money to carry 
this resolution intocflFect is hereby appropriated out of any money in tho Treju*- 
ury not otherwise ajipropriated. 

ScnUTLER COLKAX, 

Speaker of the House of Rt^prcsentatives. 
H. Hammn, 
Vice-President of the United States and President of tho Senate. 

Approved, December 17, 1863 : Abraham Lincoln. 



♦ On one side was the profile of Grant, Burronndod by a wreath of laurels, 
with his name, the year 1863, and a galaxy of sUrs. On tho rcverRe, a figure 
of Fame, with a trump and a scroll Ix-aring the names of his victories. The 
motto was: " Proclaim Liberty tliroughout the Ijmd." 



250 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

Another resolution was offered, but did not then pass, to 
revive the grade of lieutenant-general. To the many, a Ueu- 
tenant-general was a cumbrous Grand Lama to be enshrined 
at Washington, and Grant was absolutely needed in the field. 
To others, it seemed that we had military rank and titles 
enough ; it was dangerous to increase them ; and, besides, the 
rebeliiou was going to be crushed : it was no matter when, oi 
by whom. Such counsellors have given rise to the charge 
that repubHcs are ungi-ateful. KepubHcs, governed by such 
men, are so. But if honor to Grant had been put to the 
popular vote, there was no limit to the tributes they would 
have poured at his feet. 

Learned, rehgious, temperance societies elected him honor- 
ary or life member, Segars, revolvers, and gifts of various 
kinds were showered upon him. To none of which does he 
revert with so much pleasure as to a brier-wood segur-case, 
made with a pocket-knife by a poor soldier, and presented to 
him with feelings of veneration and regard, but with no desire 
for any return. The Legislatures of Ohio and New York* 
voted him thanks. Mothers called their- childi'en after him, 
and a large generation of little U. S.'s and Grants date their 
bii-thdays at this time. Every voice was heard in his praise, 
except that of an occasional blind adherent of some displaced 
general, or those whom he had the moral courage to treat ac- 
cording to their Lll-deservings, and who had the good sense to 
speak only in whispers and inuueudos. He was akeady the 
most famous man in America, the man to whom all looked as 
the one who should lead us through the storms of war to the 
quiet haven of a lasting peace. This was the prophecy ; the 
fulfilment was to be speedy. 



* " Besotted, That the thanks of the people of this State be tendered to 
General Grant and his army for their glorious victories in the Valley of the 
Mississippi, and the still more glorious victory of Missionary Ridge and Lookout 
Mountain, and that a certified copy of this resolution be forwarded to General 
Grant." 



OREAT JOY IN TIIK LAND. 251 

NEW LABORS. 

As s(i(in ns (irdor was restored in his front, anrl a projxT 
organi/ation j^iven to his forces, General Grant set to work to 
acquaint himself witli tlu' needs and interests of his vast 
military division. 

His laurels were not lotus flowers, but were the growth 

" Of those immortal plnnts that bloom 
Upon Olympus, making us immortal ; 

♦ « * » ♦ 

And make the mind prolific in its fancies." 

He forwarded to Washiiiffton well-digested plans for the 
prosecution of the war in the Southwest ; and such was the 
high opinion now entertained of his military capacity and ad- 
ministrative ability, that a joint resolution was offered in the 
United States Senate, on the 7th of January, 1804, requesting 
the President to call out a million of volunteers for ninety 
days ; and also, that he would assign General Grant to the 
command. 

At this time, General Grant made several tours of inspec- 
tion. He visited Knoxville, and finding the rebel cavalry 
were attacking his outposts, lie increased the commands from 
his now otherwise temporarily unoccupied troops. 

VISITS CUMBERLAND GAP. 

In order to satisfy himself of the character of Cumberland 
Gap, wliich had been won and lost several times, he made a 
mountain journey from Knoxville to Louisville, in the severest 
days of winter, on horseback, the precipitous roads being so 
sheeted with ice as to make the travelling very perilous. The 
most dangerous portions of the route he was obliged to walk 
over. Thus ho pas.sed through the Gap to Barl)ersville, and 
thence through Loudon and Lexington. " Hail to the Chief ' 
— both air and words — greeted him at every stopping-place ; 
but nowhere could he be prevailed upon to make a speech. 



252 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNa 

On this point he seems inexorable ; but, let us say, in passing, 
that this is no affected reticence : it springs from real di£B- 
dence. His embarrassment would be so great, that he dare 
not trust himself to make a speech. "What thus springs fi-om 
necessity, has, however, been as greatly in his favor as if it 
had been dictated by policy and worldly wisdom. His busi- 
ness has been action. Duty has never called upon him to 
speak ; and so no unfortunate extempores to satisfy a mob 
can be quoted against him. 

At Nashville, his greatest concern was to open regular com- 
munication to Chattanooga, which was by no means yet over- 
burdened with supplies. He arrived at Louisville on the 
11th of January, and on the 12th the communications were 
fuUy opened, and a large quantity of stores poured into 
Chattanooga, in readiness for the fiiture movements of Sher- 
man. 

On the 13th of January, he was again at Nashville, and 
immediately returned to Chattanooga. 

Of course, the brilliant points in Grant's career are foimd 
in his splendid strategy and masterly battle-attacks, but a 
study of his life in these lulls in the storm of war really dis- 
plays his character to equal advantage. His treatment of 
deserters, who were now coming in great numbers, is worthy 
of our observation. 

It was just, prudent, and humane. Upon their taking an 
oath, which he prescribed, they were disarmed, fed, and pro- 
vided with free passes on all mihtary railroads and govern- 
ment steamboats to their own homes. Many were employed 
in the (quartermaster and engineer departments, at fair wages ; 
and ti) avoid the danger of their recapture, they were ex- 
empted from military service in our army. (General Order, 
December 12, 1863.) 

Our space will not permit us to reproduce the judicious 
orders issued at this period. His former experience as a 
cjuartermaster was now brought into requisition, in the con- 
trol of that department, within the hmits of his vast command, 
and the legislation with regard to tlie seizure of rebel prop- 



GRRAT .loV IN TIIH LAND. 253 

orty was oan'iod cmt liv liiin in a prompt and Hkilfiil, but 
always just and liuiiiaiic manner. 



VISIT TO ST. LOUIS. 

On tlio 20(11 of January, 1804, General Grant was at St. 
Louis, whither he had ^one only on account of the dangerous 
illness of one of his i-hildrcn. But th(> crisis of the illness 
bad already jiassed when he arrived, and the announcement 
of liis presence at his old homo was the si^^nal for festive 
demonstrations and new honors. Everybody was anxious to 
catch a glimpse of the man who had opi>ned their grand river 
to the sea ; and who had, if possible, rendered the glories of 
Vicksburg dim, by the liglituing flashes of Chattanooga. He 
had come unheralded, and had registered his name on the 
hotel-book as U. S. Gk^vnt, C1IATT.VNOOGA. The news fled like 
wild-fire over the city, and the next day an invitation was 
sent him to a public diiuier, ofi'ered by the citizens of St. 
Louis, represented by a large number of the jirincijial gc^ntlc- 
meu. 

He accepted the invitation, and Friday, the 29th, was ap- 
pointed for the banquet. He spent the 27th in visiting the 
university-, in talking with his old friends, and in attending 
theatre, and devoted the two following days to his family. 

The evening of the 29th was a proud occasion for Grant 
an<l for St. Louis. To many of the people ho had been for- 
merlv known as a private citizen of moderate station, engaged 
in industrial pursuits ; but now the prophet was receiving un- 
solicited honors in his own country and his own home. Or 
rather, he had fulfilled, without prophesying ; and the people 
of St. Louis owed to him a debt which they could never repay, 
but only gi*atcfully acknowledge. It was no stinted or ex- 
torted tribute of gratitude and acbuiration ; the enthusiasm 
was intense. 

" The observed of all observers," he sat among two Inmdred 
guests at the table of the Lindell Hotel, receiving the appl.auso 
and admiration of all with great modesty and evident em- 



254 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

barrassmeut. Around Lim were seyeral distinguished generals, 
and Lis father-in-law, Mr. F. Dent. The toast of the evening 
was, " Our distinguished guest, Major-General Grant," fol- 
lowed by a burst from the band of the well-known air, " Hail 
to the Chief." Grant rose, amidst the tumultuous cheering of 
the guests, but he could not reply. His words were, " Gentle- 
men, in response, it will be impossible to do more than thank 
you." 

That same day, the Common Council of St. Louis had pre- 
sented its thanks in behalf of the city ;* and that night, after 
the dinner, he was serenaded, but again said but few words, 
declining to speak. 

Ford says, in his " Handbook of Spain," that the best 
weapon for passing through the mountains, beset with ban- 
ditti, is a segar-case filled with good Havanas. Now we do 
not mean to compare our people to Spanish contrabandistas ; 
but Grant acts upon that principle, sUghtly varied in its 
appKcation. On this occasion, as on others since, he satisfied 
the crowd by taking a segar fi'om his pocket, lighting it, and 
puffing the smoke in their presence. 

The invariable segar has thus done him good serA^ice on 
many occasions. The pantomime of lighting it is cheered in 
lieu of a speech. 



* Council Chamber, City of St. Locis, 
January 29, 1864. 

WJiereas, Major-General U. S. Grant has, since our last meeting, suddenly 
and unexpectedly arrived among us, and the opportunity not having pre^ 
sented itself whereby the city authorities and this body amid testify their great 
esteem, regard, and indebtedness due his modest, unswercing entrgU's, swayed 
neither by the mighty successes ichich have crowned his genius and efforts in 
behalf of the Gocerinneut, nor the machinations of politicians — evidences of the 
true patriot and soldier ; therefore, be it 

Itesolccd, That the thanks of the Common Council of the City of St. Louis 
are eminently due, and are hereby respectfully tendered to Major-General U. 
S. Grant, in behalf of the City of St. Louis. 

Resiilccd. Tliut his honor the mayor be respectfully rtHjuested to give his 
official approval to this jireanible and ri'solution, and cause the seal of the city 
to be affixed, and the same presented to Major-General U. S. Grant. 



ELSEWHKRE IN TIIK TIKLD. 255 



CHAPTER XXin. 

ELSEWHERE IN THE FIELD. 

Thk Mipsissirn.— Ranks. — Steele. — Rosecrans. — Our force rowrARED wrrn tob 
REBELS. — Sherman's expedition to Meridian. — Thomas moves cpoh Daltom. 
—Seymour at Olustee. — One head needed. — No political aspirations. 

It becomes us now to take a rapid glance at the general 
situation of affairs in other parts of the theatre of war. The 
Mi.ssissippi River had been fortified in numerous positions 
with heavy guns, and garrisoned principally by negro troops, 
from Cairo to Forts St. Philip and Jackson, below New 
Orleans. General Banks had his headquarters in New 
Orleans, and had detachments at Brashear City and Browns- 
ville. General Steele had a considerable army at Little Rock, 
Arkansas, and General Rosecrans commanded the Depart- 
ment of the Missouri. "U'e had eight hundred thousand men 
in the tield, and to oppose these the rebels, now everywhere 
acting on the defensive, numbered half that force. Tlie com- 
mand of Lee, including Longstreet, and the troops in West 
Virginia and North Carolina, was a hundred and twelve 
thousand strong. The army which Grant had beaten at 
Chattanooga had 1)et'n confided to CJcneral Johnston, and was 
upwards of tifty thousand strong. This im-hulcd the garrison 
of Mobih\ and the force with which Bishop Polk encountered 
Shermans march to Meridian. 



256 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 



SHERMAN S EXPEDITIONS. 



We must recur for a moment to Sherman. After he had 
given relief to Knoxville liis troops were returned to Chatta- 
nooga, and then stationed from Scottsboro', Alabama, along 
the Memphis Eailroad to Hunts\-ille. Towards the end of 
January, Sherman was ordered to Vicksburg, to command an 
expedition to the southeast. He moved from Vicksburg with 
McPherson's (Seventeenth) corps, in light marching order, to 
Morton, and thence to Meridian. He had collected a large 
cavalry force at Memphis, which was to start on the 1st of 
February, and join him at Meridian. Met, but not impeded, 
by the enemy, who were easily driven away fi'om Champion 
Hill, Clinton, and Jackson, he moved forward to Meridian. 
Hurlbut had foUowed in rear of McPherson with the Six- 
teenth Corps, and the two corps had united at Jackson and 
marched together. The advance of this movable column 
into the enemy's country promised great results. Mobile 
was in terror, and a pathway to the GuK seemed open, but it 
was all shipwrecked by a want of co-operation on the part of 
the cavalry. General W. S. Smith was to have started on 
the 1st of February, but did not until the 11th, and the rebel 
General Polk was rapidly collecting his forces with a good 
proportion of cavalry, which could only be met by cavalry ; 
and ours failed to appear. The great railway centre of Meri- 
dian was destroyed, with the track running to Quitman, to 
Lauderdale Springs, and to Cuba Station. On the 25th of 
February, General Sherman retui'ned to Vicksburg. 

In front of Charleston, the condition of affairs remained 
unchanged. An expedition made by General Thomas, under 
Grant's order from Chattanooga, upon Dalton, was abandoned 
without results. 

Foster had relieved Burnside in the command at Knoxville 
immediately after the siege was raised, but did not long retain 
the command. Scliolield, wlio had relieved General Foster, 
had moved upon Longstreet, and reconnoitred his position. 



ELSEWHERE IN THE FIELD. 257 

On the 2011 1 of Fuhruary, General Seymour, in command Ln 
Florida, had met with a serious reverse at Olustee. 

The army of the Potomac, under General Meade, was posted 
near Culpepjier Courthouse from December, 18G3, to May, 
1801 ; and although cavalry reconnoissancos wore constantly 
made, and skirmishes were the order of the day, no great 
movements were undertaken within these periods by that 
army. 

Such was, very briefly, the condition of affairs ; — a military 
lalnTinth, re(]uiring one head to control, and one initiated 
mind to thread out, its intricate combinations. As the need 
became manifest, all eyes turned to Grant, and, by the unani- 
mous consent of Government and people, he was exalted to tho 
perilous and responsible position. A new grade of lieutenants 
general was created for him, and with it a new labor, which, 
like those of Hercules, carried with it increased difficulty of 
achievement. 

There were many who, carried away by enthusiasm, were 
disposed to offer him as a candidate for the presidency. But 
tho most thoughtful preferred his services in the field ; and ho 
himself discountenanced such approaches, feeling that his great 
mission was to finish the war, and having in this so magnifi- 
cent a scope for a patriot's ambition, that he would rather 
lose than gain by political preferment. We are reminded of 
the opinion expressed by Paul Louis Courier, concerning Na- 
poleon's desire to be emperor : " Etre Bonaparte est se faire, 
sire ; il aspire a de.scendre." So, had Grant, with the weight 
and the glories of the giant campaign before him, been be- 
guiled by visions of the White House and the presidency, ho 
would have aspired to descend. But he did not. 

Foiling the politicians that approached him with a pleasantry, 
ho declared that when the war was over he would ofter himself 
as a candidate to be mayor of Galena, and, if elected, would 
have the sidewalk put in order between his house and tho 
depot. He has not had a single political thought during Iiin 
career. 

17 



258 GRANT AND mS CAMPAIQNS. 



CHAPTEE XXIY. 

THE LIEUTENA^'T-GENERAL — RETEOSPECT AND TEOSPECT. 

GeANT LiEITENANT-GeNTRAL. — ARniVES at WASniNOTOX. — liECOGXIZED AT Wrv- 

LARDS. — Commission tresexted. — I'residext' 8 address. — Grant's reply. — Kb- 
viVAL OF the grade. — Wasulngton, Scott, and Grant. — The new law. — 
Grant's PEr;soNAL appearance. — The honor unsolicited. — The country needs 
niM. — What he had don"e to earn it. — Prospect ok responsibility and danger. 
— Will he succeed ? — Unrivalled gloey. 

On the 2d of March, 1804, Grant was confirmed by the 
United States Senate, in executive session, as Lieuten ant- 
General in the Army of the United States. This put lum 
over all our other generals, but did not, without a sjDecial 
order, make him commander-in-chief of our armies. 

At five o'clock on the afternoon of Tuesday, the 8th, he 
arrived in Washington to receive his commission. He seated 
himself, unnoticed, at the dinner-table of WiUard's Hotel ; 
but being discovered by a gentleman who had seen him in 
New-Orleans — for his face was not even then famihar to 
Washington people — he was brought to his feet by the cry 
that " the hero of Vicksburg was in the room," and by a 
storm of cheers which might weU bewilder so modest a man. 
In the evening he attended the President's levee, where he 
was the observed of all observers. 

On the afternoon of the 9th, at one o'clock, he was received 
by the President in the cabinet chamber, and was j^resented 
with the commission. In any one of the old Eiu'opean mon- 
archies, the presentation would have been made among the 
grandest surroimilings. In ancient Rome, it would have been 
inaugin-ated by a tiiumph like that in which Titus joined his 
father after the famous captm'c of Jenisalcm. 



RETKOSrE'TT AND PROSPECT. 2.W 

But the sc(>iu' was more in kcojiiii;^ with our republican 
manners and the still undecided issues of the war. It was no 
time for j)a<,'(!auts : there was no brilliant gatlu^rin^, no splen- 
did start'. There were the President and his entire cabinet ; 
General Halleck, the retiring coinmander-iu-chief ; General 
Rawlins, Grant's chief of staff; Colonel Conistock, his chief 
enfjineer ; Mr. Nicolay, the President's juivate secretary ; and 
the Honorable Owen Lovejov, of Illinois. It was eminently 
proper that onc^ otluT person should be ])rescnt, and that was 
the general's eldest son, a fine boy of fourteen, the inhentor 
of his father's glory, and who, with such an example and such 
training, may well be incited to a life of usefulness, and per- 
ha))s fame. 

When General Grant entered the executive chamber he 
was cordially received by the President, and ju'csented to the 
cabinet. Mr. Lincoln then addressed him in the following 
words : 

" General Grant — The nation's appreciation of what you 
have done, and its reliance upon you for what remains to be 
done in the existing gi*eat stniggle, are now presented with 
this commission, constituting you Lieutenant-General in the 
Army of the United States. With this high honor devolves 
upon you also a corresponding responsibiUty. As the coun- 
try herein tnists you, so, under God, it wiU sustain you. I 
scarcely need to add, that, with what I here speak for the 
nation, goes my own hearty personal concurrence." 

For once in his life, and we believe for the only time, the 
General could not refuse to make a speech ; but what he said 
was very brief, and to the point. The words, which have a 
peculiar significance in the light of the great events wkich 
have since transpired, were these : 

" Mr. President — I accept the commission, with gratitiide 
for the high honor conferred. "With the aid of the noble 
armies that have fought on so many fields for our common 



2C0 GRANT AND HIS CAilPAIGNS. 

coimtry, it -will be my earnest endeavor not to disappoint your 
expectations. I feel the full weight of the responsibilities 
now devolving on me ; and I know that if they are met, it will 
be due to tliose armies, and, above all, to the favor of that 
Providence which leads both nations and men." 

Introductions followed. Half an hour was spent m conver- 
sation with the secretaries, and this simple but important in- 
ter^-iew was ended. 

Making a rapid visit with General Meade to the Army of 
the Potomac on the 10th, he started on the morning of the 
lltli for the. West ; and on the 10th, a special order of the 
President assigned the new Lieutenant-General to the com- 
mand of all the armies. 

And here we may pause for ji moment to consider what all 
this siirnified. 

THE NEW GRADE. 

The revival of this rank of lieutenant-general recalls to us 
the circumstances under which it had been before confeiTed 
in America, and which marked two important periods in our 
history. In 1798, incident to the threatening aspect of our 
relations Avith France, the Congi'ess had conferred it upon 
Washington, who, in the next year, had he Hved, Avould have 
been a full general, tlie only sensible and logical rank which 
a commander-in-chief should hold. Upon Washington's 
death, the rank was discontinued. 

In the long years fi'om February, 1849, to December, 1852. 
earnest eftbrts were made to confer this gi-adc, by brevet, on 
General Winfield Scott, for his long and illustrious services to 
the country ; but his enemies were ingenious and malignant, 
and among them the most pertinacious was the then Honorable 
Jeflferson Davis. 

These two great men were tlie only predecessors of Grant, 
for whom the full rank was now revived. 

The bill revivinjir it was introduced into the loAver House 



lU-TTROSPECT AND PROSPECT. o(]\ 

by (Jrant's constant fricuul, tli(>. llonoralilt; Mr. W;i.slil)urno, 
and being rofeiTcd to the Military Committee, was slij,'htly 
amended, and tinally prcseutcd to the House in the following 
form : 

" lie it enacted hj the Senate and House of Represent f it Ives of 
iJic I'niled S'dtcs of America, in Comjress assemlJal, That tho 
grade of lieutenant-general be, and the same is hereby, re- 
vived ill the Army of the United States of America ; and the 
Presid(>nt is hereby authorized, whenevcu- he shall deem it ex- 
pedient, to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of 
the Senate, a commander of tho army, to be selected during 
war, from among those officers in the military service of the 
United States, not below the gi'ade of major-general, most 
distinguished for courage, skill, and ability ; and who, being 
commissioned as lieutenant-general, sJioll be authorized, under 
the direction of the President, to command the armies of the 
United S'afes. 

" Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, Tliat the lieutenant- 
general appointed as is hereinbefore provided, shall be en- 
titled to the pay, allowances, and stall' specified in tlie fifth 
section of the act approved May 28, 1798 ; and also the al- 
lowances described in the sixth section of the act api)roved 
August 23, 1812, granting additional rations to certain of- 
ficers ; Provided, That nothing in this bill contained sliaU 
be constnied in any way to affect the rank, pay, or allowances 
of Winfield Scott, Lieuteuant-Gcneral by brevet, now on the 
retu'ed list of the arruy." 

To this, while in the course of debate, Mr. Ross ofTered an 
amen^lment recommending General Grant for the original 
vacancy. Mr. "Washburne's speech in favor of the amended 
bill is a masterly and eloquent exj)osition of the senices of 
General Grant, and his high eulogium has been vindicated in 
detail by the after history. The opposition was very small ; 
a triumphant majcu'ity of one hundred and seventeen to nine- 
teen votes sent it to the Senate, who confirmed it, and on the 



262 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

1st of March tlie President approved the bill, and nominated 
Grant. On the 2d, as we have said, the Senate, in executive 
session, confirmed him. Let us add that the country, with 
one voice, hailed and sanctioned the appointment, the most 
important ever made in America. 

Perhaps we could select no better time to give some de- 
lineations of the presence and person of the general thus 
honored. 

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS. 

He was not quite forty-three years of age, of medium 
height, and strong, well-knit frame. His appearance, at first 
sight, is not striking. Careless of dress, and with no grandeur 
of air or imposing carnage, he would not attract a casual 
observer in a crowd ; but a study of his face while conversing 
with him would satisfy a physiognomist, even without a 
knowledge of his history, that he is no ordinary man. His 
hair is full, brown, worn short, parted at the side over a full 
forehead, slightly prominent, but not protuberant at the 
brows. He has a good nose, relieved from the elegant weak- 
ness of the Grecian by a slight curve ; blue eyes, sad, but 
neither dreamy nor stupid, which dilate into bold expression 
in times of action and danger ; a firm, evenly closed mouth, 
which would express more if fi-ee from beard ; a beard of red- 
dish bro^^^l, cut close, evidently for comfort, and for that 
readiness of action with Avhicli the razor interferes ; and a 
square, but not projecting, jaw and chin.- The face, in spite 
of former critics, tells to my mind its own story fuUy. I see 
in it will, energy, a sense of responsibility, reticence, and 
entire self-control. If any have doubted it, let them study 
the best photographs agaia, and they will be convinced. 

To p.'.ss from his physiognomy to his character. He is a 
man of irreproachable life and habits ; pure, humane, and 
generous. His everlasting segar deserves a place in history, 
for it is a part of the man ; he is never without it, and his 
segars are very strong. But excess in tobacco depends uj^ou 



ui-yruosrECT and rnosri;iT. 2G3 

tlic constitution, and it evidently suits (liant. !!(> is entirely 
without ostentation in his house and tahle; and his able staff 
is kept f(U" use, and not show. 

In many of his orders and dispatches he has devoutly rec- 
ognized the providence of (lod, and Ids reliance upon it, as 
being tlie chief strength of nations and men ; and if ho ever 
swears, tlie religious world may bo certified that his oaths aro 
in the same category with those of my Uncle Toby and of 
Washington at Monmouth. He is phlegmatic, but not insen- 
sible ; cool, but not without enthusiasm ; habituall}- grave, 
with a simple dignity, but easily approachable by all, even to 
the poorest private ; in speech, laconic, but uuaflccted ; no 
official non-committal about him ; clear-headed, forgetting 
nothing, aiTanging details easily in his capacious brain, with- 
out much reliance upon red tape ; blushing when prai.sed, and 
bearing both praise and blame with silent magnanimity. 
Above all, he combines what Guizot has called the " genius of 
common sense" with a determination to " go ahead." 

Such, in brief, was the man who had made himself a model 
hero for the American people ; such the man who had come 
to Washington, on his own merits, but not by his own soUci- 
tation, to be made lieutenant-general and commander-in-chief. 
In the words of Mr. Washbume, " No man icith Ids consent has 
f'ver mentioned his name in connection itnth any position. I say 
what I know to be true, when I allege that every promotion 
he has received since he first entered the service to put down 
this reljellion, was moved without his knowledge or consent. 
And in regard to this very matter of lieutenant-general, after 
the bill teas introduced, and his name mentioned in connection there- 
with, he wrote ine and culmonished me that he had. been highly 
honored already by the Government, and did not asJ: or deserve 
any thing more in the shape of honors or 2^romotion ; and that a 
success over the enemy was what he craved above every thing else ; 
that he only desired to hokl such an injlucnce over those under his 
command as to use them to the best advantage to secure that end." 
But the country had need of him ; the Government could not do 
without Imu, and so they saved themselves by honoring Grant. 



264 GRAKT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

And here, wlifle he stands in our narrative at the parting of 
the ways, let us briefly advert to the retrospect, and then 
glance at the prospect before him. 

KETROSrECT. 

First, let us see what he had done to make himself, in vio- 
lation of the maxim of the French philosopher,* a necessary 
man to the American people. From the day of his second 
entry into the service as a colonel of volunteers, he had been 
continually in the field, and not sunning his imiform in the 
streets of our great cities. He had been constantly enlarging 
his sphere of action. His name became speedily known to 
the country, and the laconic philosophy of his dispatches 
gave the people something to take hold of and ring the 
chimes upon ; some imdesignedly eloquent epigram of each 
great victory. At Fort Donelson, the " unconditional sur- 
render" which he demanded gave a new significance to the 
initial letters of his name. " I propose to move immediately 
upon yoiu* works," struck a popiilar chord. Hard pressed at 
Pittsburg Landing, he told Sherman a characteristic story on 
the field, illustrating the secret of victory, and ordered him to 
assume the oli'ensive. 

After the great campaign which concluded with the captirre 
of Vicksbiu-g, he received from President Lincoln an auto- 
graph letter, magnanimously confessing that he had not been 
in favor of the plan of the campaign, and ending thus : " I 
now wish to make a personal acknowledgment, that you were 
right and I was wrong.". He had opened the Mississippi 
from the head-waters to the mud-islands of the Delta. 

In really serious straits at Chattanooga, his animals dying 
by thoiisands, and his men in danger of starving — not, how- 
over, by any faidt of his own, for he only assumed command 
to find the situation such— he had received Bragg's merciftd 
message to remove the non-combatants, and had heard 

* La Rocliefoucauld sajs : " 11 ny a paa d'hommo mjcesaaire." 



UKTKOSPI-XT AND PliOSPECTT. 205 

Brapjq's c'liaractcristic liojvst that in tliroo (lays' time Clrant'a 
army would be ilyiug in hungry disorder t(; NashviHe ; where- 
as, in three days' time, Bragg's disordered hosts, fhinked and 
beaten in front, wore flying southward before Grant's attack. 

Ho had asked for nothing from the Goveniment ; liad re- 
fused to make capital by making speeches ; would not bo ap- 
proached on political questions; escaped, except when cor- 
nered, from ])ublic demonstrations, public dinners, aild the 
like ; and now the young man, unknown to the public four 
years before — wood-dealer, collector, farmer, leather-dealer, 
and yet always an honest man and a gentleman — had como 
to Washington to receive his reward, the very greatest to 
which an American had ever attained. 

rnosrECT. 

But it was something far more and far different. "We have 
glanced at the retrospect : let us look for a moment at the 
nature of the prospect — not simply, as before, one of partial 
trial and danger and glory, but of a sole and crushing respon- 
sibility. As his hand gi-asped the glittering wreath, it turned 
magically into a flaming sword, and a voice, like apocalyptic 
thunders, cried '" Onward !" The stars shone, indeed, but 
only to disclose dimly in the darkness new dangers, new 
struggles, vigils never intermitted ; and it was a very bold 
man indeed — one of sleepless soul, indomitable courage, and 
undying pati'iotism, avIio, amid the roaring Red Sea of battle, 
the breakers of ofKcial dictation, the misapprehension of pro- 
found plans by an impatient and impressible public, who saw 
only the surface, and last, but not Ica.st, the Syrtis Major of 
pohtics — could assume such a charge at such a time, even with 
all its honors. Would he flutter and flounder and fall, like 
the historical dignitaries of other days, and like the many ex- 
])crimental generals of our own times, who were tasked above 
their powei-s, and failed miserably? Or would ho succeed 
completely, and achieve a colo.ssal, an inirivallnl fame? 
Surely, in the latter case, would be apphcable to him the 



266 GRANT AND HIS CA:^IPAIGNS. 

words uttered by the eloquent Tully to tlie clement CsDsar, in 
wliicli be declares, that in the praise then accorded, the great 
general has neither rival nor sharers ; it is beyond the power 
of cohort, centurion, or prefect.* He stands alone. 



* " At vero liujus gloriae, C. Caesar, quam es paulo ante adeptus, socium 
babes neminem : totum boc quantumcumque est, quod certe maximum est, 
totum cat, irKjuam, tuura. Nihil ex ista laude centorio, nihil praefectua, nihil 
cohors, nihil turma decerpit."— Orat. pko M. Mabcello, u. 7. 



THJfi CONDUCT OK TUE VVAli. 267 



CHAPTER XXV. 

THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR. 

(iBant's coNvtmoNs. — Evils to be RF.MEDiEn. — The nkw ri.Ax.— Tiik ohkat tii»- 
ATUE — How occiriEn. — The rebel aumies. — Lee and .Joiinstd.v. — Olk opi-osino 
AiiiiiEs. — Banks in Virginia. — Directions to General Butleb.— Jsioel's in- 

BTItl (.mONS. 

Before proceeding to follow tlie personal movements of 
Lioutenant-Gi'neral Grant, as he acconipanitMl the Army of 
tlie Potomac, sharoil its fortimes, ami generally directed its 
movements, let us now pause for a moment to glance at the 
whole field, and present a summary of his plans and ])urposes 
as the director and supen'isor of all the campaigns. His clear 
and capacious mind had been silwitly at work on the great 
])roblem, before his appointment as general-in-chief. He had 
long been impressed with the idea that the operations must 
be continuous and unremitting, without regard to weather, 
season, or climate. 

We had an active, brave, and desperate enemy. The 
absolute despotism of the Confederate government enabled it 
to bring into the service every man and boy capaljle of bear- 
ing arms ; and if the enemy was infi'rior in nnndiers and in 
resources, that was more than counterbalanced by manifest 
advantages. He was able to move always upon interior lines, 
and stood upon a general defensive, which he could easily 
turn into an ofiensive. He could transport troo}>s with ease, 
in order to moss the same bodies, at different times, against 
our separate armies. Seeking the strong points, he could 
abandon tcmtory at pleasure, without losmg in a miUtary 



268 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

point of view. While our armies were resting or inactive, by 
reason of weather and roads, he could furlough a portion of 
ever}' force, to plant crops or provide suppHes, caUing them 
together, as soon as threatened, to resist our new advance. 
Those wlio Avero unfit to take the field, were employed in 
general j^reparatious, and as provosts in collecting and return- 
ing deserters. 

On tlie other hand, we had a very large tcmtory to hold 
and garrison, surrounded by a hostile population ; extensive 
communications by land and water to protect ; and increased 
difficulty in proA^iding supplies, the further we advanced. Inde- 
pendent action of our armies, at the East and West, had been 
productive of great evil. As in a baulky team, the " pull all 
together" Avas wanting ; and it had frequently happened that 
a victory in the East was partially neutralized by disasters 
at the West, and vice versa. All this Grant had seen and 
deplored. 

grant's purpose. 

The plans of the lieutenant-general may be thus epitomized. 
Starting with the postulate that the sole object confided to 
him was to destroy the military power of the rebellion, and feel- 
ing sure that, this done, its whole power, its life indeed, would 
be destroyed. Grant proposed — First : To counteiiioise the 
enemy's interior advantages, by engaging him at all important 
points at once and continuously, that he might not shift his 
troops as before, Avithout exposing weak points where he 
would readil}' be beaten. Second : To make unrelenting war 
against his main armies. Beat them if possible ; but if that 
could not l)e done at once, wear tliem out by constant shocks 
and constant attrition. In the latter case, he saw that force 
of numbers alone would, in the end, produce the desii'ed result. 
He dependiHl gi'eatly, also, and not without reason, u])on the 
valor and skill of our armies ; and the country depended, with 
entire confidence, upon him. 



THE ruNDUt'T OF 'IIli: WAIL 269 

THE GREAT THEATRE. 

Jjoi us now cast ii glance on the condition of affjiirs in tlio 
vast tlifutro, anil tlu> positions of our forces, when liu assumed 
command of the wliole. 

I. The seacoast was almost entirely blockaded by our navy, 
and the foreign resources of the rebels reduced almost to zero. 
We had footholds at many points. Plymouth, Washingtoi . 
and Newbern, in North Carolina, had Union garrisons. Wo 
were in possession of Beaufort, Folly Island, Morris Island, 
Hilton, Head, Port Royal, in South Carolina ; Fort Pulaski, in 
Georgia ; Fernandina, St. Augustine, Key West, and Pensa- 
cola, in Florida ; New Orleans, with its river approaches, in 
Louisiana ; and a small gamsou at the mouth of the Rio 
Grandt". 

I I. The Mississippi River, thanks to Grant and his gallant 
army, was ours in its entire length. It was strongly gam- 
soued at all points, fi-om St. Louis to its mouth. The entire 
line of the Arkansas was also in oiu* possession ; so that wo 
were armed masters of all the country lying west of the Mis- 
sissippi and north of the Arkansas. We also held a few 
points in Soutkern Louisiana, west of the Mississippi, but not 
far from the river. All the remaining Trans-lNIississippi terri- 
tory was in rebel possession, and held by a force of not less 
than eighty thousand men. Of this force, however, it must 
bo observed, that it had become somewhat disintegrated by 
inaction and want of opposition by our armies ; so that one- 
half of it was in a state of partial disbandment, but could 
easily be called out wlnii needed to join the garrisons. Suf- 
fice it to say, that the rebel army west of the river was quite 
large enough, with the numerous guen-illa bands, and the 
dangerous, because secret, co-operation of a disloyal and 
bitter population, to render it necessary to employ a large 
force in order to keep the river open to the navigation of our 
tleets and commerce, and to give protection to the loyal men 
— few, but mark hI men — in the country west of it. 

III. If we look east of the Mississipjji at this juncture, wo 



270 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS 

shall find that we held substantially the line of the Tennessee 
ard the Holston, including nearly all of Tennessee. South of 
Chattanooga, in Georgia, -sve kept a small foothold, soon to be 
of gi-eater importance, but now occupied to keep the enemy 
fiom marching up and attacking our garrisons in East Ten- 
nessee. 

IV. Wliile we had an armed occupancy of Western Vir- 
giiua, the rest of Virginia, with certain important exceptions, 
was in the rebel hands. We had a small portion at the north, 
the line of the Potomac. We also held Norfolk, Fortress Mon- 
roe, and a small suiTOunding country, and the ground occu- 
pied by the Army of the Potomac, tlien lying north of the 
Kapidan. 

To supply the troops, in these widely distant locahties, was 
a colossal task. To guard the routes of communication and 
supply, by roads and rivers, against raids, guerrilla bands, 
and a bitterly hostile people, was a subordinate but most 
troublesome and annoying duty, subsidizing large numbers of 
men. 

THE iu:j3kl armies. 

Tlie principal armies of the Confederacy, at tliis period, 
were those under Lee, in Vii'ginia, and Johnston, in Georgia. 
Lee, the ranking officer in the Confederate army, was person- 
ally in command of the Ai-my of Virginia, posted along the 
south bank of the Papidan, from strong intrenchmeuts on 
Mine Run, westward, covering Pichmond against Meade's 
Army of the Potomac. Lee was an excellent general, clear- 
headed, quick in the dispositions of a battle-field, cool and 
brave, the military idol of the Confederacy. He had generally 
acted on the defensive, but Avas always ready to turn it into 
the ofTensivc, in which he had made ijiistakes, like that at 
Gettysburg, which would have killed the reputation of any 
other Confederate general. But his reputation had a more 
Kohd basis in the aftection of the Confederate peoj^le, and was 
to receive still additional glories in the Titanic battles about 
to follow with his greater antagonist. Grant. 



TIIE CONDUCT OF THE WAU. 271 

Johnston, to whom our rcadera havo ah-oady boon intro- 
dacetl, foniniaiHh'd tho second great army, at Dalton. \\'ith 
this ho c'ovcrt'd Athinta, a groat raikoad centre, where four of 
the primipal railroads terminate, — a depot for cotton and 
breadstulls, e<pially a centre for foundries, niaclrine-sliops, 
and military magazines, and therefore of vital importance to 
the rebels. 

Forrest, with a large force of cavalry, was operating in 
Northeastern Mississippi ; while the Shenandoah Valley, por- 
tions of "Western Virginia, and tho extreme eastern angle of 
Tennessee, were in the enemy's hands. Besides these armies 
and forces now mentioned, there were garrisons of various 
size at the points on the scacoast, which we had blockaded. 

To speak technically, the objective points of the campaign 
were Richmond, Atlanta, and the rebel armies which covered 
them ; each city and its covering army merging into one 
objective, as we should drive the enemy back within the city 
defences. 

OUR OPPOSING ARiTIES. 

To oppose and destroy the army of Lee, and to capture 
Richmond, was the work assigned to the Ai'my of the Po- 
tomac, with certain co-operating columns. This army was 
commanded by Major-General George Gordon Meade, and 
its exi)Ioits wiU constitute the chief material for the remainder 
of our naiTative. Lieutenant-General Grant was to accom- 
pany it. 

The army of Johnston was to be driven back, and Atlanta 
taken, l)y the army of Major-General Wilham T. Sherman, 
now at Chattanooga. Tliis oflicer, upon Grant's promotion, 
had been ])laced in command of the Military Division of the 
Mississippi, and was thus the director of aU tho forces from 
the Mississippi to the Alleghanies, together with tho Depart- 
ment of Arkansas, west of the Mississippi ; but he was to lead 
in person the army against Johnston. He was entirely in 
Grant's confidence, had had long conversations with the 
heutcnant-gcneral, and knew his desires thoroughly, even 



272 GRANT AND IIIS CAMPAIGNS. 

without a written word. The instiiictions, therefore, were 
very general. He was to beat Johnston's army, destroy it if 
possible, and march down as far as possible into the enemy's 
country. On no account was he to let Johnston slip away 
and join. Lee in Virginia. If he should attempt it, Sherman 
was to follow in hot haste, and neutrahze him. Grant prom- 
ised equally not to let large re-enforcements go from Lee to 
Johnston, to crush Sherman. The orders were very general, 
but the sequel j)roved that the tiiist reposed in Sherman was 
very just. 

BANKS. 

Major-Gcneral N. P. Banks, commanding the Department 
of the Gulf, was just going up the Eed River on an expedi- 
tion to Shreveport, Louisiana, which had been organized be- 
fore Grant assumed the command in chief. The orders sent 
to Banks were general, but, in the light of after events, im- 
portant. He was dii*ected to take Shreveport without delay : 
or in the event of its requiring ten or fifteen days over the 
time for which Sherman had sent him troops, he should send 
them back to their commands at the specified time, even should 
this make it necessary to abandon the main pui-jDose of the 
Red River expedition ; for this force was absolutely necessary 
to Sherman in his movements east of the Mississijipi. If he 
succeeded in taking Shreveport, he might hold it Avith an ade- 
quate force, but must take the bulk of his troops back to New 
Orleans, which might soon become the point of departure for 
an attack upon Mobile. 

We need not dwell long upon the further instructions to 
General Banks. They were explicit on all the groat points. 
If successful, he was to turn over the defence of the Red River 
to General Steele and the navy. Except the picd-d-terre on 
tlie Rio Grande, which could be held by four thousand men 
well intrenched, a serA^ce for which the colored troops might 
in part be used, he was to abandon Texas entirely. A reduc- 
tion might be made in the garrisons on the Mississi2")pi, from 



'IIIK CONDUCT OK THK WAR. 27S 

Port Hudson to New Orloans, nnd «'ls('wlioro in liis drji.irt- 
inent. iuid he would thus havo thirty thousand effectives with 
wliich to niovo a;^'iunst ^foltili", in co-operation witli other 
troops which Grant promised to S(Mid him. In the advance 
on Mobile, which was to ho a combined movement witli the 
navy, ho was to arranj^e with Admiral Farra^it ; but Grant 
suj^<^estod Pascaj^oula as a base. Profound secrecy was en- 
joined upon him. 

IN ^T^G^^'TA. 

In considorinp; the problem to be encountered and solved 
by the Army of the Potomac, more than one ])lan sup<^ested 
its(>]f. The ]n-imary, all-transcendin;:j instnictions were to at- 
tack Lee, and wherever ho went, to follow liini. Of the feasi- 
l>le j)l;ms wliich ju'esented themselves, the lirst was to cross 
the lla])idan below Lee's army, move rapitUy upon his right 
flank, and turn or crush it. 

The second, to cross above, and turn or threaten Lee's left. 

By ado]>ting the second plan, he woidd put Leo into great 
concern about Richmond, and make it impossible for him to 
move his army, or send large raiding parties northward. But 
this would separate him from direct, easy, and constantly 
shortening lines of communication with Butler. He could 
only move with a certain supply of rations, and if unsuc- 
cessful in beating Lee, must return to his base when those 
were out. 

The first plan promised more. By crossing below he could 
approach Butler and PichmoTid, and force Leo to move down 
with him, or abandon llichmond and his base. It is true that 
Lee might move northward ; but this involved a desperate 
])urpose, and wonderful, almost miraculous fortune. In any 
• vent, Lee always moved upon an interior line and acted upon 
the defensive. 

The first plan was ado])tetI ; and in carrv'ing it out, never did 
Grant assume a more difVicidt task and a greater responsibil- 
ity. It was enough to a])pal the stoutest heart. There are 



274 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

fow men besides Grant .who Avould have undertaken it. We 
dare not assert that there are any besides him who would 
have succeeded in it. 

The plans being definitely adopted, all the armies were busy 
in preparation. Expecting to move with the Army of the Po- 
tomac, he could issue to it daily orders. To the forces directly 
co-operating with it, his instructions were given specifically in 
writing. 



DIRECTIONS TO GENERAL BUTLER. 

As early as April 2, General Grant had informed Butler of 
his plans, — that all were to co-operate energetically, and that 
as all the forces could not be united, two or three large ones 
were to co-operate in a common purpose. As, by concert of 
action, these should approach each other, the territory to be 
guarded would decrease in extent, and the entire force of the 
enemy, in all portions, be employed at the same time. The 
conclusion of the matter was, that while the Army of the Po- 
tomac was to take care of Lee's army and approach Rich- 
mond, Butler was to move dii'ectly upon Richmond by the 
south side of the James. For this purpose he had twenty 
tliousand men, — to be joined by Gillmore, who was to be at 
City Point on or about the 18th of April, with ten thousand 
more in transports, brought fi"om the Department of the 
South. This body Gillmore was to command ; and General 
'U'ilUam F. Smith was sent to Butler to command the remain- 
der of the forces in the field. 

With this force Butler was to move up the James and take 
City Point, intrench himself there, and make instant prepara- 
tions to take the field. When ready he was to advance, hug- 
ging the south bank of the river closely. If Grant should 
force Lee back to Richmond, the two armies could speedily be 
joined. Enjoining upon him to use his cavahy to cut the 
railroad about Hick's Ford, and at other points, he left all 
minor details to Butler. 

On the IGth of April these instructions wore substantially 



TIIK CONDUCT OF TIIK WAR. 275 

reiterated ; and on the IDth, liutler was directed to begin Ihh 
movement wlien Meade should move with tlie Army of tho 
Potomac from Culpepper. Grant further informed him that 
if he could succeed in so investing Richmond as to make his 
left flaidv rest ujion the James Kiver al)()V(.> the city, ho 
wouKl join liini tlit'n>, if he succeeded in diiving Leo back. 
In any case, IJutler must so operate as to keep a largo 
force in Richmond, or south of it, and away from Leo's 
arm}-. 

Besides the written instructions, Grant had a personal in- 
terview and long conference with Butler ; and both Butler and 
Meade distinctly imderstood that, in last resort. Grant's pur- 
pose was to move across the James, and take position on the 
south, — the Yicksburg tactics shghtly modified. 

Butler was also informed of the gi'eat — if secondary — import- 
ance of occupying Petersburg, while Richmond was his prin- 
cipal objective. 

sigel's instructions. 

General Sigcl had command of our forces in Western Vir- 
ginia, in the Shenandoah Valley, and in defence of the fron- 
tiers of Maryland and Pennsylvania. Grant directed hinr 
to organize for two co-operating expeditions southward, ono 
from Beverly and the other from Charleston, to be commanded 
respectively by Generals Ord and Crook. But just at this junc- 
ture General Ord was relieved at his own request, and the ex- 
pedition from Beverly was abandoned. Two columns were 
substituted ; — one, ten thousand strong, to move under Crook, 
on the Kanawha ; and the other, seven thousand strong, 
under Sigel in person, up the Shenandoah. The former was 
directed to take Lewisburg, and move douMi the Tennes- 
see Eailroad, destroying the New River Bridge, antl the salt- 
works at Saltsville, which were of incalculable value to the 
enemy. 

AVe shall recur to all these projects where thoy take their 
places as distinct movements in the ckronologie il .n.l.r. 



276 GRANT AND HIS CAifPAIGNS. 

Pending the manoeuvres of the principal armies under 
Grant against Lee and Kichmond, and under Sherman against 
Johnston, all other organizations were actively employed ia 
protecting our extended Unes, and communication between 
the loyal States and the armies. 



PREPAKATIONS I'DU Till-; FINAL CAMPAIGN. 277 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

PREPARATIONS FOR THE FINAL CAMPAIGN. 

GaAur'a announcement to the armies.— At Wabhinoton. — The Army or the 
roTOMAC. — General Meade. — The armt reoroanized. — Frrrn Corps — Second 
—Sixth. — The Ninth Corps. — The character of the army. — Grant's statt. 
— Meade's chief, and adjitant-oenerai.. 

Grant had left Washington shortly after recei\'ing the ap- 
pointment of Lientcnant-Gcneral,- and was at Nashville at the 
time that Mr. Lincoln's order was issued promoting him to 
the supreme command. He immediately announced it to the 
armies, by embodying it in the following order : 

Headquarters of the Armies of the United States, 
Nashville, Tenn., March 17, 1S64. 

In pursuance of the following order of the President : 

"Executive Mansion, Washington, March li^, 1864. 
" Under the authority of the act of Congress to appoint to the grade of 
lieutenant-general in the army, of March 1, 1804, Liputenant-Qeneral Ulysees 
S. Grant, United States Army, is appointed to the command of the annies of the 
United States. 

ADRAIIAM LlJfCOLN." 

I assume command of the armies of the United States. Headquarters will b« 
in the fiolil, and, until further orders, will be with the Army of th« Potomar. 
There will be an office-headquarters in Washington, to which all official com 
municationa will b«^ sent, exa^pt those from the army where the headquart«^ 
arc at the date of their addreSa. 

U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-Gener&l. 



278 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNa 

The following is the General Order of the War Depart- 
ment : 

General, Orders, No. 98. 

War Department, Adjcta>'t-Gkn-eral'8 Office, 
Washington, March 12, 1864. 

The President of the United States orders as follows : 

First. Major-General Halleck is, at his own request, relieved from duty as 
general-in-chief of the army, and Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant is assigned 
to the command of the armies of the United States. The headquarters of the 
army will be in Washington, and also with Lieutenant-General Grant in the 
field. 

Second. Major-General Halleck is assigned to duty in Washington, as chief 
of staflF of the army, under the direction of the Secretary of War and the Lieu- 
tenant-General commanding. His orders will be obeyed and respected accord- 
ingly. 

Third. Major-General W. T. Sherman is assigned to the command of the 
Military Division of tlio Mississippi, composed of the Departments of the Ohio, 
the Cumberhirul, the Tennessee, and the Arkansas. 

Fourth. Major-General J. B. McPherson is assigned to the command of the 
Department and Army of the Tennessee. 

Fifth. In relieving Major-General Halleck from duty as general-in-chie', 
the President desires to express his approbation and thanks for the zealous 
manner in which the arduous and responsible duties of that position have been 
performed 

By order of the Secretary of War. 

D. E. TowKSEaJD, Assistant Adjutant-General. 

On the 23d of March, six days afterwards, he arrived in 
Washington, accompanied bj Mrs. Grant and his eldest son. 
Of his military family, only General Rawlins and three of his 
staff were with him. The eyes of the whole nation were upon 
him, and their hopes strong that he would not dictate the 
movements from AVashington. It was, therefore, with the 
greatest satisfaction that both eyes and hopes followed him 
immediately to his new headquarters in the field. Loyal men 
drew a long breath when they found he was going to conduct 
the campaign against Lee in person. The spirits of all were 
raised, and the confidence of all was reposed in this one man 
whom God had raised up to dehver us. His movable head- 
quarters were at once fixed with the Army of the Potomac, at 





■^ 






PHKI'A RATIONS IT)U TFIIJ FINAL fAMPAION. 279 

CulpopixT C()urth()us(>, and it was manifest that ho proposed 
to himself the most dillk-ult task of alL This army ho. pro- 
ceeded at once to reorganize in the manner beat suited to hia 
purposes. Intending no disparagement to certain command- 
ers who were removed at liis suggestion, and transferred to 
other parts of the tlieatre of war, he selected those with whom 
ho thought he could work best, for purposes either of inde- 
pendent command or concert of action. His selections were 
extremely judicious. 

THE AR.\rY OF THE rOTOMAC — GENERAL MEADE. 

General Meade, the hero of Gettysburg — that eyer-memo- 
rable battle, wliich saved the Republic in one crisis of its fate — 
regarded by the army as a commander of the first rank, wiis 
retained in command of the .\rmy of the Potomac. And here 
we may pause to consider the relations of these two officers. 
Grant had undoubtedly in an especial manner the charge 
and control of tlie campaign, and could at his pleasure direct 
the movement of any portion of the Army of the Potomac ; 
but, in a general statement, we may say, that while he directed 
what movements were to be made, Meade had the handling of 
that army, and all the details of battle were in his hands. 
He was to Grant what the coqis commanders were to him ; 
and nobly throughout that campaign did Meade co-operate 
with Grant, doubtless sometimes hushing the utterances of 
those finer sensibilities which must occasionally have struggled 
for expression, on account of the necessary but somewhat 
anomalous condition of his relations to the supreme cliief.* 



♦ (icm-ral (Jrant's words are: "Commanding all the armifs, as I did, I 
tried, as far a.-^ jjossihlp, to U-ave Oeneral Meade in indcpcndtnt command of 
the Army of the Potomac. My instruction!* for tliat army wt-re all through 
him, and w-n- c'-neral in thiir natun-. leaving all tho details and execution to 
him. The campaigns that follow.^1 prov.-d him to be the right man in the 
right plaa\ His commanding always in the presonco of an officer superior to 
him in rank. ha--< drawn fn>m him much of that public attention which his 
leal and ability entitled him to. and which he would otherwise have received." 



280 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

Until the flood of detailed reports is poured into the lap of 
history, the country can never know how much it owes to 
Meade for the campaign we are now about to describe. The 
axmy is always spoken of as Grant's army ; the dispatches 
were sent through Grant's headquarters ; and his presence in 
the field gave him not only the entire responsibility, but, in 
the public eye, the entire praise for what was done. Every 
page of the following narrative will show us the great glory 
of Grant ; and we sj^eak with authority when we say, that he 
would not detract for a moment fi'om the masterly skill, the 
labors, the valor, and the constancy of General Meade, which 
endured even to the end. To these, indeed, the Lieutenant- 
General has borne public testimony, in recommending General 
Meade for promotion as a majoi'-general in the regular army, 
a position he nobly deserved, ai:d which he now holds. 

Remembering this, our readers will not expect from us an 
attempt to make the difficult distinction, at all points of the 
campaign, between the functions of the Lieuteuaut-General 
and General Meade. At times, however, we shall make such 
a tlesignation. 

THE ABMY REORGANIZED. 

The army was reorganized on the 24th of March. The 
corps were consohdated, and reduced to throe — the Fifth, 
Second, and Sixth. Without giving the details of consohda- 
tion, arrangement, and transfer of divisions, we may present 
the general organization and strength of these corps, as fol- 
lows. 

The Fifth Corps was commanded by Major-General Gouv- 
erneur K. AVarren, a young officer of engineers, who had been 
rapidly promoted on account of his dashing valor, his skill in 
handling troops, and his devotion to his mihtary profession. 
He had been jKirticularly distinguished at Bristoe Station. 
His corps consisted of four divisions, commanded respectively 
by Generals Wadsworth, Crawford, Robinson, and Griffin. 
The commanders of brigades were Ap'es, Cutter, Baxter, 



PREPARATIONS FOR THE FINAL CAMPAiaN. 281 

J. J. Bartlitt, liariu's, iiucl llii-e, all vi'tcruns by reason of 
coutiuuous service in the pre.seut war. 

The Seeoiul Corps was commanded by Major-General Win- 
field Scott Hancock, an officer of infantry, who had received 
an ajipointnient in the Quartermaster's Department ; who had 
also risen with great rapidity ; and who, in bearing, personal 
ap))earance, splendid gallantry, and influence ovrr his troops, 
fullv deserves the e]>ithet which he received at Wiliiamsburfi — 
" Hancock the Sui)erb." His di^'isions were commanded in 
the following order : by Generals Barlow, Gibbon, Binicy, 
and i3arr. The brigade commanders were Generals Webb, 
Owen, Ward, Alexander Hayes, and Mott ; and Colonels 
Miles, Smyth, Frank, ]3rooke, Carrol, and Brewster. Colonel 
Tidl)all was chief of artillery. 

The Sixth Corps was under Major-General John Sedgwick, 
highly esteemed as an officer, and greatly beloved as a man, 
throughout the army. Originally an officer of artilleiy, he 
had been made, before the war, a colonel of cavalry ; and by 
his services since, he had risen to the first rank, having more 
than once been oflfered command of the Army of the Potomac, 
which his modesty cau.sed him to dechne. His di-sdsion com- 
manders were Generals H. G. Wright, Getty, and Prince ; 
and the brigades were commanded by Generals Torbert, 
Shaler, "WTieaton, Neill, Eustis, and Russell; and Colonels 
Upton, Bumham, and Grant. Colonel C. H. Tompkins com- 
manded the artillery. 

The reserve park of artillery was under the general tlirec- 
tion of Brigailier-General Henry J, Hunt, chief of artiller}- ; 
and under the immediate command of Colonel H. S. Burton, 
of the Fifth Aitillery. 

A brigade of engineer troops, and the ponton-trains, were 
under the command of Major (now General) James C. Duane, 
of the United Stat -s Engineers. The immense park of supply- 
wagons was directed by Brigadier-General liufus Ingalls, 
chief quartermaster. 

The cavalry of the entirr army was consolidated under 
General Phihp H. Sheridan, an officer of Regular Infantry, 



282 GRANT AXD HIS CA>rPAIGNS. 

who had abceadj distinguished himself in the Southwest, and 
whose services in this campaign were to fill the country with 
his fame. 

Of the principal commanders in the former army, Major- 
Generals Sykes, French, Kewton, Pleasonton, and Brigadier- 
Generals Kenly, Spinola, and Meredith, were relieved and 
sent to other fields. General Kilpatrick was sent to com- 
mand Sherman's cavalry. 

THE NINTH COUPS. 

The Ninth Corps, composed in part of colored troops, who 
were noAv for the first time fighting for their country, and 
who, after the experience of Fort PiUow and Plymouth, felt 
tliat there was no surrender for them, had been reciniiting at 
AnnapoKs. It was commanded by General A. E. Bumside, 
ah'eady well known to the world as the captor of Roanoke and 
Newbern, and for his ill success at Fredericksburg. It was 
reviewed by President Lincoln on the 23d of April ; and then, 
dispelling aU doubts as to its destination, it was marched at 
once to Culpepper, to join the Army of the Potomac. 

THE CHAEACTER OF THE ARMT. 

Such was the aggregate force with which General Grant 
was about to move upon his greatest campaign, bearing with 
him the hopes, the prayers, and the confidence of the country. 
As to its character, we may be permitted to say that it was 
as good an army as it was possible to produce, taking into 
consideration the rapidity of its organization, and the great 
numbers of new troops. Its generals were good men and 
true, thoroughly schooled and tested by former services ; the 
Ueutenant-general, General Meade, and all the corps com- 
manders, most of the division, and many of the brigade com- 
manders, were graduates of tlie Military Academy at West 
Point. The men were of admirable material, but many of them 
new troops, who had never been under fire before, a^d de- 



PRKPARATIONS FOR THE nNAL CAMPAKIN. 283 

pcndcd, tlicroforo, upon the nuclous of votonins upon wliich 
they wore fonnod, and upon tlio oxanijilo and directions 
of the company and regimental officers immediately com- 
manding tlicm ; and here, what liad been the weak point of 
th(^ Army of the Potomac, as indeed of all our armies, in the 
early stages of the war, had grown into robustness and 
strength. The subordinate officers who had been at first 
appointed, were uninstructed and unfitted to command the 
men. The generals directed the movements, and the men 
carried them out as well as they could ; and the successes of 
the best manceuvres would frequently not have been achieved 
had it not been for the superior intelligence, bravery, and 
dash of the private soldiers, who had left their homes with 
their lives in their hands in defence of the countri". But now, 
we have the authority of competent judges for saying, all this 
was changt d. The worthless had been weeded out ; brave 
men had risen from the ranks ; and a new generation of 
officers, who had become so after hard service, directed the 
men, and were connected with them by a sympathy of the 
strongest kind. 

The following officers composed the staflf of General Grant 
in the field : 

Brigadier-General John A. Rawlins, chief of staflf; Ldeu- 
t^Miant-Colonel T. S. Bowers, assistant adjutant-general ; 
Liiutenant-Colonel C. B. Comstock, senior aid-dtvcamp ; 
Lieutenant-Colonel O. E. Baca Babcock, aid-de-camp ; 
Lieutenant-Colonel F. T. Dent, aid-de-camp ; Lieutenant- 
Colonel Horace Porter, aid-de-camp ; Lieutenant-Colonel 
W. L. Dull- assistant inspector-general ; Lieutenant-Colonel 
W. R. Rowley, sc^cretary ; Lieutenant-Colonel Adam Badeau, 
secretary ; Captain E. S. Parker, assistant adjutant-general ; 
Captain George K. Leet, assistant adjutant-general, in charge 
of office at "Washington ; Captain P. T. Hudson, aid-de-camp ; 
Captain H. W. Jouos, assistant quartermaster, on duty at 
headquarters ; First-Lieutenant "William Dunn, junior, Eighty- 
third Indiana "S'olunteers, acting aid-de-camp. 

General Meade's chief of staff was Major-Goneral A. A. 



284 GILVNT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

Huiiiplireys, a field-officer of engineers, who, as a division 
commander, had gained reputation at Gettysburg. His 
adjutant-general was General Seth Williams, an officer of 
the gi-eatest value, on account of his ready, rapid, and system- 
atic discharge of the duties of his department. 

From what has been said, it will be seen that Grant's pro- 
gramme was an admirable one, and the prospect bright. If 
the collateral movements of Butler and Sigel should be suc- 
cessful, and the southern communication cut off by Peters- 
burg and Lynchburg, Lee, although holding an interior po- 
sition, and acting upon the defensive, would be obHged to di- 
vide his forces, and Grant's march to Richmond would be 
comparatively easy. But if they failed, Lee could concen- 
trate upon Grant, and give him the more difficult task. 
Grant had a right to expect the success of these movements ; 
but, as the sequel proved, he was fortunate in not placing 
entire dependence upon them. The resoui'ces of a gi'eat gen- 
eral consist in many alternatives, and in rapid modifications 
of his plans, when they are thwarted by the failure of subor- 
dinates or the hazardous chances of war. Such resources 
Grant was to find necessary in the impending campaign. 



THE CROSSINQ OK THE UUBICON. 285 



CHAPTER XXVn. 

THE CROSSING OF THE RUBICON. 

All madt. — Grant makes rnrAL preparations. — The position of tiib arxt.— 
Lie's position. — The roads.— The Wilderness. — Meade's order. — Thk ooRpa 
MOVE.— Plans and counterplans.— The rebels come up in column. — Ewkll 

ON Ol'R RITfllT, BY THK TURNPIKE. 

Every thing was now in readiness for the Army of the 
Potomac to move. During the month of April, re-enforce- 
ments had been pouring in. Grant makes a tour of inspec- 
tion ; examines into the details of the organization ; clears the 
army of citizens and sutlers ; is closeted with the authorities 
at "Wa.shington, receiving their directions, and explaining to 
them his pui-poses ; visits Butler's command, and gives general 
directions for the control of all the armies. And, just eight 
weeks from the day of receiving his commission as lieutenant- 
general, he issues the order of advance, to turn, if possible, 
the right flank of the enemy. 

The position of the Army of the Potomac, just before tho 
grand movement, M-as along the north bank of the Rapidan, 
confronting and watching the army of General Lee. That 
army, composed of tho coqis of Ewell, Hill, an<l Long- 
street, and the cavalry under J. E, B. Stuart, lay upon and 
near the south bank of the river, with its front strongly pro- 
tected by fuld-works. The left flank was covered bv tho 
Rapidan, and the mountains lying near Orange Courthouse ; 



286 QRAJS'T AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

and the right flank by a well-intrenclied line from Morton's 
Ford to Mine Eun. 

General liee was evidently in ignorance of Grant's plans, as 
to whether he would attempt to turn his left or his right, or 
attack him boldly in front. The first of these, perhaps, was 
that which he anticipated. To thwart them, all, he had strongly 
fortified the river and Mine Run, from a point three miles 
below Racoon Ford, and his lines extended twenty miles on 
each side of Orange Courthouse. EweU and Hill were 
nearest the river. Longstreet's corps, which had just returned 
from East Tennessee, where it had been -u-intering since his 
terrible repulse at Knoxville, was within easy supporting dis- 
tance, near Gordons%dUe. 

The plan of Grant was to cross the river below, and, by a 
sudden movement, turn Lee's right flank, and cut him off from 
Richmond ; then, by fierce battles, to beat him and destroy 
his army. In case of failure in these plans, his alternative 
was to force him back by marching by the left flank, and by 
this flank movement to follow him to Richmond. 



THE ROADS. 

A glance at the map will show two roads running from 
Orange Courthouse to Fredericksburg — the turnpike and the 
planki'oad ; the former tolerably straight, and the latter tor- 
tuous, but in a general parallel direction. 

Let it be particularly observed, to a proper understanding 
of the movement, that the Stevensburg plankroad runs from 
Culpepper Courthouse to and across Germania Ford, in a 
southeasterly direction, crosses the turnpike before mentioned, 
and terminates in the plankroad. At the jimction of the 
plankroad and the turnpike is the old Wilderness tavern. 
Five miles beyond, at the junction of the two plankroads, is the 
old church. The Brock road leads southeasterly to Spottsyl- 
vania Courthouse. 

To reach this latter point, and thus pass through the Wil- 
derness, if possible, without encountering Lee's columns, was 




FHOM TILB BAPrDAN TO niCHMOKD. 



288 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

Grant's d^^sirc ; for, that junction once being secure, Lee's po- 
sition on the Rai)iclan was turned, and several roads to Rich- 
mond were laid open to us. 



THE "WILDERNESS. 

The Wilderness is a broken table-land, covered over with 
dense undergrowth, with but few clearings, in which the rebels 
could conceal themselves, which proved a formidable obstacle 
to our advance. It was intersected by numerous cross-roads, 
generally narrow, and bounded on either side with a dense 
growth of low-limbed and scraggy pines, stiff and bristhng 
chinkapins, and scrub-oaks. The undergrowth was principally 
of hazel. There were many deep ravines, but not sufficiently 
precipitous to offer us much trouble on that account ; the 
principal difficulty being in the almost impenetrable under- 
growth, which would impede our advance in line of battle, 
and render the artillery almost useless. Besides the cross- 
roads mentioned, numerous narrow wood-roads pass through 
the Wilderness in all directions. 

With these preliminary remarks, let us now come to the 
passage of the river. 

On the 3d of May, General Meade issued a stirring order 
to the Army of the Potomac, which was read to every organ- 
ization.* 



* ITeadquakters Army of the Potomac, 
May 3, 18tU. 

SoLDrERS — Apain you aro called upon to advance on the enemies of your 
country. The time and the occasion are deemed opportune by your command- 
ing general to address you a few words of confidence and caution. You have 
been reorganized, strengthened, and fully equipped in every respect. You 
torm a part of the several armies of your country — the whole under an able 
and distinguished general, who enjoys the confidence of the Government, the 
ix-opl.-, and the army. Your movement being in co-operaticm with others, it is 
of the utmost imiiortance that no eflbrt should bo spared to make it successful. 

Soldiers! The eyes of the whole country are looking with anxious hope 
to the blow you are about to strike in the most sju-red cause that ever called 
nu-n to arms. Ili-member your homes, your wives, and children ; and bear in 



THE ClioSSlNU OK TIIK UrBICUN. 2H<) 

Tiir, roiMs Mi.M,. 

At mitliULrlit, oil the .'id, (irncnil Wilson, with tlu' Third 
Ciivah-y Division, moved to Crormaniti Ford, with iin en;^'inocr 
party and ponton-train, to prepare for the crossinj^ of the 
infantry at that jioint. (lr('j^<^'s division of cavah-y proceeded 
at tht' same hour to make simihir pri'parations for the crossing 
at Ely's Ford. After hiving the pontons, Wils(^n's division 
marched forward to the ohl Wihlerness tavern and Chancellors- 
ville, without meeting any opposition. Up to this time it was 
evident that Lee expecti-d Grant to move in the direction of 
Orange Courthouse and Gordonsville, and was not prepared 
to contest our crossing. At an early hour on the morning of 
the 4th, "Warren, with the Fifth Corps, followed the cavalry to 
Germania Ford, and crosst>d. Sedgwick's (Sixth) corj)s came 
immediately after, and both marched down from the ford 
towards tlu* junction of the plankroads, which we have desig- 
uatt'd as an important strategic point. 

Hancock, with the Second Corps, followed Gregg's cavalry, 
and crossed at Fly's Ford just after daylight. Thence he 
marched, according to directions, to Chancellorsville. 

The supply-trains had been assembled at Eichardsville, 
guarded l)y one division of cavalry. From that point they 
followed the Second Corps, crossed at Ely's, and also marched 
towards Chancellorsville. 



mind that the sooncT your enemies nre overcome, the sooner vou will be re- 
turnitl to enjoy th(» benefits and blf..-.siiig>i of peace. Boar witli jiatience the 
har(l.slii])s and sacrifices you will be called upon to endure. Have confidence in 
your officers, and in each other. 

Keep your ranks on the march and on the battle-field ; and let each man 
eurnestly implore God's blessing, and endeavor, by his thoughts and actions, to 
reniler himself worthy of the favor he seeks. With clear conscience and stmng 
arms, actuated by a high K-ns*- of <lnty, fighting to preserve the Oovernuieni 
and the institutions handed down to na by our forefathers, if true U^ ourselves, 
victory, under God's blessing, must and will attend our efforts. 

(iKoitGE G. Mk.\de, Major-Ocneral commanding. 

S. WiLi.r.\M8, Assistant Adjutant-General. 

19 



290 &RANT A^D HIS CAJMPAIGNS. 

A detachment of Sheridan's cavalry, after crossing, en- 
countered and drove back Stuart, in the direction of Orange 
Courthouse. 

Lee, who was keenly on the alert, if deceived for a moment, 
was soon aware of our purpose ; and, with a vigor which 
must extort our admiration, moved up at once in two columns, 
to offer desperate battle on the morrow, and, if possible, to 
break our hue of battle, hastily formed to meet his attack. 
It was now manifest that, although Grant had crossed the 
river by a surprise, he would not reach the point of destina- 
tion, and leave the ugly Wilderness behind him, without a 
fierce struggle. 

PLANS AND COUNTERPLANS. 

Lee's effort was to strike him in his flank movement, by 
two columns, against his line, and, if possible, rout him in the 
Wilderness, after piercing his line, as Nelson and Collingwood 
did that of the French and Spaniards at Trafalgar, Grant 
had not intended to fight in the Wilderness, if he could help 
it; but he was compelled to do this. When he found Lee 
approaching in force, he at once proposed to himself three 
alternatives : first, to beat Lee and rout him, wherever he 
chose to accept or to give battle ; second, to cut him off fi'om 
the raih'oad and Eichmond, and then to follow him up and 
beat him ; and third, faiUng of these, to compel him to move 
southward towards Eichmond, striking him a side-blow at 
every step by flanking him on the left, and thus constantly 
thi-eatening his right flank and communications. 

We can only undertake to present the grand featiu'es of the 
campaign. Indeed, its myriad details are so confused that it is 
impossible to describe them. They can never be fuUy known. 

After crossing, Warren's (Fifth) corps was placed in posi- 
tion, on Thursday at noon, west of the old Wilderness tav- 
ern, across the tm*npike, on the Germania and Chancellors- 
ville plankroad, towards Parker's store, and five miles south 
of the ford. The line of battle was formed nearly north and 



THE ruossiNo OF THE urnicox. 201 

south. Scd^wic-k. witli tho Sixth Corjis, was oxpootfd to 
como into hno on Warren's ri^lit, and extend to tho river, cov- 
ering all approaches to the ford, but was long delayed in do- 
ing so. Hancock, who had been directed upon S])ottsylvania, 
was detlected, anil hurried forward by the JJrock road, to take 
post on the left, across the plankroad from Orange Court- 
house, and thus to C(unpleto the line. There was a fretpient 
shifting of divisions, but tho general positions of tho corps re- 
mained nearly the same. 

Burnside, who had just reached Culpepper befort^ the move- 
ment, had been directed to remain twenty-four hours there, 
and then to move forward and join the main body. The 
Ninth Coi'jis was designed to form the resei'ves. 

It was now plain that the enemy was moving by the turn- 
pike and plankroad from Orange Courthouse, to cut us oflF 
from the intersection, and that the battle must be fought in 
the Wilderness. Lee was playing an offensive-defensive in a 
country with which he was well acipuiinted, and where a small 
force could forbid the advance of a very large army. He was 
moving, as we have seen, in two parallel columns upon the 
flank of our line. Grant was entirely on the offensive, and 
had a far more difficult task. His artillery was paralyzed ; and 
it may be stated as a curious fact, that although there were 
nearly three hundred guns on the field, only about twenty 
were used. Much of the cavalry also fought dismounted. 

THE REBELS COME UP IN COLUiTN. 

Let us now turn to the Confederate army. It consisted of 
three cor|is : the first, commanded by A. P. HiU, formerly an 
officer of artillery in our army, a brave and determined gen- 
eral ; the second, by R. S. Ewell, an equally good officer, who 
was a captain of cavalry before the war ; tho third, by Long- 
street, whom we have already mentioned as a determined and 
rapid fighter. General Lee, " the idol of the Confederacy," 
commanded in jierson. No sooner had he an intimation of 
our crossing, than he moved Ewill up by tho tuinpiki-, and ou 



292 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

the night of the 4th his advance division, under Johnson, 
encamped in front of "WaiTen's left, at Parker's store, on the 
plankroad, three miles fi*om Wilderness Kun. Ehodes' division 
followed by the same route, and Early's took post -within sup- 
porting distance, near Locust Grove, — all in readiness for the 
battle which it was evident to every commander, in both 
armies, must be fought on Friday. 

Before day of the 5tli, Johnson's division gained a hill in 
their fi'ont, forming in line of battle, with John M. Jones' bri- 
gade on the right, Stafford in the centre, and Stuart on the 
left. Walker was in potence on the extreme left. 



THK HAITI. K OK Mil; W ILI>i:i;.NHSS. 293 



CHAPTER XXYin. 

THE BATTLE OF THE VnLDERNESS. 

Orders to Warrkn and Skdowick. — The BATTLK-FntLD. — Hancock to tor rxsour 
— Grnkral attack on the 6th. — Hancock's encounter. — Second rebel a* 
SAVLT. — GonnoN flanks our riobt. — Grant on the field. — Comme.vts.— Lossbi' 
— Dkawn battle. 

ORDERS TO WARREN AND SEDGWICK. 

Early on tht» moruini^ of the otli, the head of Warren's 
(Fifth) coqi.s beint^ near Parker's store, on the Orange and 
Fredericksbiu-g phinki-oad, information was received that the 
enemy was coming up in forjce on the Orange ttinipLke. Or- 
ders were immediately sent to Wan-en to halt, concentrate his 
coi-ps on the pike, and attack furiously whatever he should 
find in liis fi'ont. The orders were explicit, and the manoeu- 
vres rapid. The Sixth Corps was directed to move at once 
by any wood-roads they might tind, and support WaiTen, by 
taking position on his right, and joining in the attack : but 
Getty's division, of the Sixth, was detached, and hunied to 
the intersection of the Orange plankroad and the Brock road, 
with orders to hold it to the last, until Hancock, who had now 
been deflected from Chancellors ville, should come up into line 
on the left. 

THE BATTLE-FIELD. 

The battle-field in front of Warren, seen from the old 
tavern, may be thus described : In front is a brook, flowing 



294 GRANT AND fflS CAMPAIGNS. 

nortlieasterly, like the Fontanone, at Alexandria, fouglit over 
so furiously by the First Consul, and Melas, in the battle of 
Marengo. A bridge spans it at the turnpike ; then the road 
rises to a ridge. On the southern slope is Major Lucy's 
house, in the midst of a lawn and gi-een meadows ; beyond 
which are wooded hills and cedar thickets. On the right of 
the turnpike the pines and cedars are thickly set : a ravine 
runs through still further to the right, on either side of which 
are the lines of Warren and Ewell. An Indian battle-ground 
truly, of broken, irregular surface, and almost impenetrable 
undergrowths ; and yet here nearly a quarter of a miUion of 
civilized troops were to meet in the shock of battle. 

The fighting began at twelve o'clock of the 5th. Warren 
had come into position, and attacked as directed, with the di- 
visions of Griffin and Wadsworth. So energetic was the at- 
tack, that Ewell was driven back for some distance on the 
pike. Every thing would have been well, had it not been for 
want of the expected supports. Want of roads, and the ex- 
treme denseness of the thicket, had prevented the Sixth Coi-ps 
fi'om coming up in time, and thus completing the progi-amme. 
Thus the very ardor of our attack exposed the flank of Grif- 
fin. The enemy, quick to take advantage of this, rolled him 
back, vnth a loss of two guns. Wadsworth, in turn, after des- 
perate fighting, was forced back. In the mean time, Craw- 
ford's division, which had the advance in the morning, had 
been withdrawn to the right towards the pike, formed on the 
left of Wadsworth, and attacked with him. T\Tien Wadsworth 
was driven back, Crawford, in his turn, was for a time iso- 
lated, and although extricated, it was not without the loss of 
many df his men as prisoners. 

Ewell's corps made desperate efforts against Warren to 
turn his left flank, before Hancock could come up. Getty, 
rapid and valiant, came into position as ordered, on the 
Orange plankroad, just in time to find our cavalry forced 
back by the overwhelming numbers of A. P. Hill's advance. 
With cool sagacity, Getty deploys his command on both sides 
of the road, takes the head of the advancing enemy in a cid-de- 



Tin-: HATTI.E OF TIIK WILDERNESS. 295 

S(ir, pours in a deaiUy volloy, and chccliH them thoro until 
Hancock can como up. 

The fi<;hting was desperate and frightful; men were shot 
down bv uns»>on enemies, and the confusion seemed inextri- 
cable. Johnson's division was precipitated upon Warren. 
Jones' brigade was driven back, and Jones and his aid killed 
in their cfTorts to rally his men. Stuart comes into the gap 
made by the retreat of Jones' brigade, and in turn our men 
are di'iven l)atk ; Khodes' division comes up in rear of John- 
son, with the l)rigados of Daniel and Gordon ; and so vigor- 
ous is their movement, that they push our centre back and 
cai)tiu*e a number of prisoners. Such was the fighting in 
front of the Fifth Corps, and Getty's division of the Sixth. 
Warren lost terribly, but was not driven back far. 

The Sixth Corps also sustained some attacks while coming 
into position. It was not until towards evening that it suc- 
ceeded in making its way through the tangled thicket, and in 
forming a connection Anth the Fifth. But Httle was eflected 
l)y either of these corps after the first attack of the Fifth. 
The red tide of battle swayed back and forward on the right, 
left, and centre, without important success on either side. On 
the whole, up to this time, the advantage seemed to be with 
the enemy ; but it was not long to remain so. 

HANCOCK TO THE RESCUE. 

It was now two o'clock. The orders deflecting Hancock 
from Chancellorsville had not been sent a moment too soon. 
They were obeyed with such alacrity, that his arrival on the 
field was not a moment too late. He was directed to form at 
once, and attack with Gett}'. 

In the early afternoon, Hancock, ever ready in the hour of 
danger, formed his line in front of the intersection of the 
Chancelhtrsville and l>rock road, and was soon engaged with 
Hill's corps, which had come uji by the plankroad on the 
riglit of Ewfll. Hill's corps cfinsisti-d of the divisions of 
Anderson, Heth, and Wilcox, all of them West Point men, 



296 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

formerly in our arrnj, Hancock attacked vigorously, driving 
in the skirmishers of Heth, who was in advance. The battle 
raged furiously for three hours ; and, as in the other part of 
the field, it swayed back and forth until evening. "WTien 
Heth was nearly overpowered, Wilcox moved up in his rear, 
on the right and left of the plankroad, first one brigade, and 
then another ; and at half-past four, Hill's coi^ds was fully de- 
ployed in Hancock's front. 

The attack of Hancock and Getty was at first successful, 
although the enemy resisted stubbornly; but at length Mott's 
division of the Second Corps gave way, thus forming a tem- 
porary break in our line. Into this, w'ith characteristic im- 
petuosity, i-ushed Brigadier-General Alexander Hays, with 
the Second Brigade of Birney's division, to repair it. He 
was shot dead while gallantly loading his command into the 
thickest of the fight. 

While this was pending, the enemy's columns now being 
distinctly seen in motion across towards the Orange plank- 
road, the division of Wadsworth and Baxter's brigade, all of 
the Fifth Cori:)s, were marched over in that direction, to join 
and attack with Hancock. But again the impracticable 
nature of the country' retarded theii' march, so that they did 
not arrive in time before dark to do more than drive in the 
enemy's skirmishers, and confront liim, in readiness for the 
coming battle of the morning. 

The coming of night, it was supposed, had put an end to 
the carnage. So desperate had been the enemy's attacks, 
and so determined his resistance to ours, that most com- 
manders would have now been inclined to act upon the de- 
fensive. The natui'e of the ground, the gi'cat losses, and the 
small results were enough to discourage ordinary men ; and 
doubtless many brave men in that army were abeady dis- 
heartened. But it was not so with Grant. With character- 
istic firmness and cheerfulness, after having received the 
reports of his commanders, he issued orders for a general 
attack to be made by each corps on whatever it confronted, 
at five o'clock the next morning. Greek had met Greek, and 



THE HA'ITI-K OF TIIK \\"iLni:i{Ni-:ss. 207 

tho i\v^ of war w;is to coiuo. Thoso mi;^lity hosts lay in doso 
c'ont.-ii't with each other, and in ono phico so near that the 
combatants drow their water from tho same stream. 



GENEUAl, ATTACK oN TIIK OTII. 

Tlie aiTanp;ements for fi<^litinf; the next clay wore these : 
Biirnsiile was moved up to take post for a time In tho gap 
between Warren and Hancock, between the Orange plank- 
road and the turn])ike ; while Getty's division of the Sixth 
Corps, and "Wadsworth's division of the Fifth, remained de- 
tached as before, on the left of the Fifth, to re-enforce Han- 
cock's ri^ht, upon which it was e^'ident the most violent 
storm of the battle was to fall. His position was the most 
important. His attack wovdd bo vigorously made, and the 
enemy had massed heavily there to receive him. 

Ewell's corps was now in front of Sedgwick and Warren, 
and Hill in front of Hancock. Longstreet, after a long march, 
has arrived duiing the night to re-enforce Hill. The sagacity 
of Grant in thus re-euforeing Hancock is now apparent, for 
otherwise the rebels would have oveqiowered him. To till 
the gap in the rebel line between Ewell and Hill, Wilcox had 
been moved to his left to join on to Ewell ; and there, still 
ignorant of Longstreet's coming, he intrenched himself. 

Thus began a series of desperate conflicts from right to 
left, a repetition of the terrible carnage of the day before. 
SedgAvick contrived to hold his position in tho right, and War- 
ren his place in the line. 

Hancock's encounter. 

But the principal fighting, as was anticipated, is in front of 
Hancock. Attacking at five o'clock jireoisely, with Wads- 
worth and Getty, on the terrible phinkroad, such is his mo- 
mentum, that he drives Heth and Wilcox, of Hill's coi-]\s, a 
mile and a half to the rear, and within a hundred ami fifty 
yards of Lee's headquarters. Hv takes possession of their 



298 GRANT AND HIS CA]MPAIGNS. 

rifle-pits, many prisoners, and five stands of colors ; but by 
eleven o'clock they have succeeded in slowly dri\-ing him back. 
It was at the critical moment, when the enemy was in some 
confusion, that Longstreet had appeared upon the field. 
McLaws' division of his corps, led by Kershaw's brigade, is 
handsomely deployed under fire ; Field's division comes into 
the Kne, which is further strengthened by Anderson's division 
of Hill's corjjs ; and these heavy masses now make overwhelm- 
ing efforts to double up our left flank, and throw the whole 
army back upon the river. By eleven o'clock Hancock is 
driven back, and in danger of being turned, but sustains 
himself in the new position to which he has fallen back. 

Wadsworth, pushing forward into a weak point between 
the rebel corps on the left centre, fights with the utmost 
gallantry to rally the retiring columns, has two horses shot 
under him, and at length falls dead by a shot through his 
head. The advancing rebels gain possession of his body, 
leaving his fate unknown until several days afterwards. 
General Getty, seriously wounded early in the action, refuses 
to leave the dubious field until compelled by loss of blood to 
do so. 

SECOND REBEL ASSAULT. 

There is now a lull in the battle, until four o'clock in the 
afternoon, betokening the still heavier massing of the enemy's 
troops in front of Hancock. At that hour the storm bursts 
again upon him. The troops of Hill and Longstreet, formed 
in four Hues, move lilce a mighty sea upon Hancock's posi- 
tion, and roll into our lines, overwhelm the divisions of Bir- 
ney and Barr, and approach very near to the headquarters of 
Grant and Meade. But that sea was soon to have its refluent 
wave. Gibbon's (Second) division, rapidly formed in rear of 
the breach, first checked and then pushed l)ack this impetuous 
advance. Then, it is said. General Lee rushed forward to 
lead Gregg's Texan brigade, and was only prevented by the 
earnest entreaties of his oflicers and men. 

Not long after Hancock is thus pushed back by the con- 



TIIK BATTLK OF THE WILDERNESS. '200 

contratoci forces of tho enemy — that is, after two o'clock in tho 
afternoon— l>nrnsi(l(> attacks towards the Oran^'e j)lankroa(l, 
to the rii^ht and in advance of Hancock's position ; ])ut the 
enemy, n'lieved for a time from the jiressure of Hancock, is 
able to advance his whole force a<;aiiist the Ninth Coii)s, and 
Burnside, iinablo to pierce his line, withdraws at nightfall, 
takiii}.^ jMisiticm between the Second and Fifth Corps. 

The skill and valor of Hancock, the firmness of GiV)bon, 
and the distinguished gallantry of Colonel Carroll, command- 
ing the Third Brigade of Gibbon's division, broke this surg- 
ing wave of the rebel attack, and dashed Lee's hopes of 
breaking our left. 

GORDON FL.\>s"KS OUR RIGHT. 

And now the wearied Union army might well hope that the 
fighting for the day was over ; but they were mistaken. At 
sunset, a heavy column of attack, under General Gordon — 
permitted to advance at his solicitation — moved from the 
extreme left of the enemy, which extended for a brigade front 
beyond our right, and, amid the deepening shadows, burst 
upon that flank, held by Eickett's division. Our men were 
worn out, and had thrown themselves upon the ground to rest, 
unconscious of the danger which was brewing. The result was 
a complete surprise. The roar of cannon and the flashing 
of a thousand muskets, heralded the instant chargt; of the 
enemy. On they came, like a whirlwind, on the flank and in 
front, rolling up and capturing the brigades of General Tni- 
man Seymour and General Shaler ; but the promptness of 
Sedgwick, commanding the corps, checked their advance, and 
prevented any further confusion. General Seymour was par- 
ticularly unfortunate. He had that very day taken command 
of the Second Brigade of the Tliird Di\'ision, and had behaved 
with the greatest gallantry. "We may say, in passing, that 
when marched as a prisoner to Richmond, he took occasion 
to tell the rebels, in tho boldest manner, some unpalatable 
tniths as to the issue of the war ; which, if they had acted 
upon them, would have led to an earlier ending. 



300 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

This little success of the enemy could not justify the rebel 
boasting with which it was announced: besides, it was very 
soon to be more than overbalanced ; and Grant's gi-eat army, 
baptized by the fire, stood as firm as a rock in spite of it. It 
became necessary, however, to transfer the sick and wounded 
from the Germania Ford road to the one leading to Chan- 
cellors^oUe ; and as for the ford, if Lee wanted that, Grant 
presented it to him as a fi-ee gift. He did not want it, how- 
ever : business led him in the other direction. Impotent to 
stir Grant's army, Lee was about to abandon his position, and 
retire sullenly southward to guard his commimications, and 
to find a new point where he might contest the advance of 
Grant. 

Dm-ing the lighting of Tliursday and Friday, Wilson's 
division of the cavaby moved from Parker's store towards the 
Catharpin road, where it had several passages of arms -^-ith 
Stuart's rebel cavahy. For a time Wilson became isolated, 
and was fiercely attacked. He succeeded, however, in cutting 
his way through and rejoining the main body under Sheridan. 
On the 6tli, Sheridan held the left flank and rear of oiu' army, 
repulsing all Stuart's attempts to penetrate around our flanks, 
and on the 7tli he repulsed the enemy with severe loss at 
Todd's tavern. 

The fighting of the 6th of May substantially terminated what 
has become famous in history as the battle of the Wildemess ; 
for on the next day, the 7th, Hancock's advance foimd Lee 
withdrawn fi'om his immediate front, and pushing forward, 
discovered him in a new line, strongly intrenched, near 
Parker's store, and connecting with his intrenched line on the 
turnpike. 

GRANT ON THE FIELD. 

The headquarters of the lieutenant-general, during Thurs- 
day and Friday, were in rear of our centre, near the junction 
of the planki'oad and a small road leading to Parker's store. 
Most of the time he was on a piny knoll with Meade, just in 



THE RATTLE oF THE WILDERNESS. 301 

rear of Warren. Tlioso who observed him durin;; the ac- 
tions were struck witli his unpretending,' appcHninee, and his 
imperturl)iil)U« manner. Neithi-r dan^o-r nor responsihihty 
seemed to atieet liim ; hut lie seemed, at times, lost in thouglit, 
and oecasionally, on tlie receipt of information, would mount 
his hor.se and gallop oil' to the point where he was needed, to 
return with equal speed to his post of observation. 

Divining Lee's pur})os(^ of retreat. Grant lost not a moment 
in irresolution, but .set his army in motion on a night march 
fifteen miles to Todd's tavern, on his way to Spoltsylvania 
Coiu-thouse, whither, it was now evident, Leo was also has- 
tening. 



COMMENTS. 



We may now pause for a moment to consider the desperate 
nature of the struggle in the Wilderness. Desperate it was 
in the extreme. Over a line of battle of six miles in length, 
in a thickly tangled country, adding confusion to slaughter, 
General Grant had forced his way pa.st the enemy ; had com- 
pelled him to abandon his works, positions, and plans of 
battle ; but had neither diMnoralized nor thoroughly beaten 
him. On the other hand, Lee had no reason to boast of anv 
success in his attacks. The rebel attack of Gordon upon 
Sedgwick had indeed given them some prisoners of ours, and 
had cut oil' Sedgwick's communication with Germania Ford ; 
but as Grant had no intention whatever of returning, or of 
even holding the ford after his trains were safe, this apparent 
success of the enemy was reaUy valueless ; and when Grant 
withdrew Sedgwick, Lee, in concern about his right tlank, 
had neither time, men, nor di.sposition to occupy Germania 
Ford. 

Lideed, after the battle of tlie Wilderness, Lee, for a mo- 
ment uncertain how severe Grant's losses were, thought w^ 
were retreating to Fredericksburg, to cover Washington. Ho 
was not long in doubt, for Burnsi.lc and Sedgwick were .soon 
found to be in motion by the old Chancellors\-illo road towards 
Spottsylvania. 



302 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

He li!\d also other means of gaining information. Spies 
and traitors were all around our headquarters. Our signals 
were discovered and repeated ; and, w-ith a rapidity that 
savored of magic and diaboHc arts, no sooner had an order 
been issued by Grant, than it was known at Lee's headquar- 
ters. On the other hand, we had no such information. There 
were not in the rebel ranks, ^-icked as they were, men as vile 
as Northern traitors, who, while wearing the uniform of the 
Eepubhc, living on its bounty, and sworn to protect its glori- 
ous banner, were in secret league with the enemy, and doing 
more to defeat Grant's plans than did the men who were ar- 
rayed in battle against him. 

LOSSES. 

Our losses in these battles were not less than, fifteen thou- 
sand men. Without means of accurate knowledge, we beheve 
those of the rebels to have been less. Among those whom we 
could ill afford to lose were Generals Wadsworth and Alexan- 
der Hays, shot dead while gallantly leading the advance to 
repair the breach in our line on the afternoon of the 5th, — the 
former, a remarkable example of self-sacrificing patriotism. 
Past the prime of life, rich in the world's goods, of the highest 
social station, and distinguished in a political career, he 
needed nothing to gratify an honorable ambition ; but, a loyal 
and loving son of the Repubhc, he had taken up arms to in- 
sure her integi-ity, and he gave, as he was ever ready to give, 
his life in vindication of the noble cause. 

To an equally ardent patriotism, General Hays added the 
noble ambition of an educated and experienced soldier. 
Frank, brave, quick, and energetic, he was the model of a 
commander. His men loved him, and followed him, because 
he not only commanded, but led them ; and although not in 
the highest position, we sustained no gi-eater loss on that day 
than that of the noble Hays. 

Among our wounded were Hancock (slightly), Getty, Gregg, 
Owen, Bartlett, and Carroll. 



TTTE n.\TTI.K OF Till: WIl.niatNKSS. 303 

Tlio rohols sniTiTcd also in tho loss of grnorjils. Lonj^- 
strci^t, shot, tliov say, hy ono of his own nion, was tlirown out 
of tho tu'ld for tho rest of the year; and, with no (lisparaj^o- 
nu'nt to otli(M"s, li<> was thoir host corjis coinmanch'r. John M. 
Jones, well rcini'iuhorod as one of tho most ofliciont officers at 
West Point for many years, Jenkins, and Stafford, wore killed. 
Pegrani, Pickett, and Hunter were wounded. 



DmVWN BATTLE. 

In brief epitome, wo may say that, considered in its imme- 
diate result, tlie battle of the Wilderness was a drawn ])attle. 
In the light of after events it does not so appear. It was the 
grand and bloody initiative of a sj^lendid campaign, in which 
Lee was to be driven to Richmond, and eventually sur- 
rounded and captured there. We have the highest authority 
for saying tliat Grant was not for a moment dismayed, nor 
even for a moment doubted the final result. 



304 GRANT AKD HIS CAMPAIGNS. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



ON TO RICHMOND, 



SCSPENSE AT THE NoRTH. — Lee's RETREAT. — SedOWICK KILLED. — "WrIOHT TO SiXTH 

Corps. — Attack on Spottsylvania. — Hancock'3 feat of arms. — The after-bat- 
tle. — Our losses up to the 12th. — Who retreats, Grant or Lee?— The 
land ahead. — a new flanking movement. 



SUSPENSE AT THE NORTH. 

Throughout the country, the people, uninformed of Grant's 
phans, were in a state of great excitement ; and, schooled as they 
were to expect disasters in Virginia, they would not have been 
astonished had his army made a "masterly retreat" across the 
Ea]iidan. The wild excitement in Washington during those 
battles cannot be described. It extended to the President 
and the War Department. High fimctionaries sat up all 
night to receive intelligence from the field. Orders were 
given to the outposts, mostly guarded by the Invalid Corps, 
to arrest all fugitives, not to permit a single man to enter the 
defences of Washington, and to put all officers who shovdd be 
found retreating, in irons. The crowd of fugitives was gi'eat 
and sickening, and among the officers thus ironed and brought 
to the War Department, it is a significant fact that there were 
four colonels : so that at the very moment Grant was carrying 
out his i)lans of advance, and before his disjiatches could be 
received, it was feared tliat his wlioU' army was in retreat. 
Til is horrible fear and suspense were, however, soon dis- 



ON TO RICHMOND. 305 

pellcd. The good news came, and with it eamo a call for re- 
enforcements. Lee was not driven from the field in rout. 
This hope, if it liiid been entertained, was not realized ; but 
the country breathed fi-eely at the assurance that, in default 
of this, (Irant was })ushin^' liini slowly but sur«'Iy down to his 
defences at Richmond. Every available man was sent to the 
front. Tlie hea\y artillery re<^inieuts, which had been n^ciiiited 
for the purpose of forming garrisons, were pushed forward, 
and the last volunteers took their place. The President 
of the United States, now that the first suspense had been 
removed, proposed public prayers and thanksgi^•ing, in 
token of our gratitude to God, and our dependence upon his 
mercies.* 

lee's retreat. 

At daybreak on Saturday, the 7th of May, hostilities were 
again resumed. Oiu- artillery opened upon the enemy's posi- 
tions, and skirmishers were thrown out. It soon became evi- 
dent that battle tactics were for a time ended, and that grand 
tactics would be the order of the day. And here it should be 
observed how closely the minds of Lee and Grant divined and 
followed the plans of each other. Grant, as we have said, had 
abandoned Germania Ford, and withcb-awn Sedgwick, march- 
ing him to the rear and left. Here seemed to be a chance for 
Lee to cut his communications ; but this very movement of 
troops to our left compelled the enemy to pause, and to take 
care of his ri^ht flank and his own communications. 



• ExECCTin Mansion, Washinotox, May 9, 1864. 
To THE Friends of Union and Liberty : 

Enough is known of the army operations within the last five days to claim 
our especial gratitude toCtod. Wliilo what remains undone diniands our most 
sincere prayers t*} and reliance upon Him (without whom all human effort is 
vain), I recommend that all patriots, at their homrs. in their places of public 
worship, and wherever they may be, unite in common thanksgiving and prayer 
to Almighty God. 

ABaAUAM Lincoln. 
2U 



306 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

There was a little desultory fighting in our front ; but, by 
noon on Saturday, the fact was fully developed that Lee was 
abandoning his intrenchmeuts, and moving down rapidly by 
his right, on a road parallel to our projected movement^ in or- 
der to give us check at Spottsylvania Courthouse. The two 
armies moved simultaneously. On the night of the 7th, War- 
ren's (Fifth) corps, preceded by a column of cavaliy, moved 
southward by the Brock road, followed, with closed intervals, 
by Hancock's (Second) corps, through Todd's tavern ; Bum- 
side's, by a road to the east across the Ny ; and Grant's head- 
quarters were moved to the road running northeast from 
Todd's tavern, and crossing the Ny near Piny Branch Church. 
During the movement. Grant and Meade, with their staffs, 
were consulting at the fr-ont, and constantly exposed to the 
fire. 

Both armies were now in motion for Spottsylvania Court- 
house. The cavalry, after some skirmishing near Todd's 
tavern, had at length a general battle, in which our forces 
were only successful in holding theii* gi'ound. 

The Fifth and Second corps were pressed forward on the 
Brock road on Saturday night and Simday moniing. The 
Fifth, notwithstanding its gi-eat fatigue, was not suffered to 
rest, but marched all Saturday night. The Sixth and Ninth, 
on the east, in that order, by the Orange plankroad and the 
turnpike, preceded by the trains, were also in movement, all 
converging to Sjiottsylvania Coiu'thouse. In order to clear 
the dense roads, it was found necessary to move the trains by 
daylight, which gave information to the enemy, and enabled 
him to meet our movements with corresponding checks. 

Lee was retreating to the same point by a parallel line to 
the west, but in perfect order. Master of the situation, he dis- 
played great sldU in tui-ning to the left, and striking shai-p, 
well-aimed blows, for which Grant was prepared, and which 
he returned with interest. Thus was fought the battle known 
as "Alsop's Farm," where the Fifth Corps received one of 
these attacks. 

The Fifth Corps, marching by the Brock road, amved 



ON TO UK'IIMOND. 307 

within throo miles of Spottsylvania, and liero cncounterod the 
corps of Lon,i,'stnM't, prcparocl to dispute tlio croasinfj of tlio 
Rivor Po at the Brock road. Longstreet's corps had arrived 
at the sanio ]i()int, wliore the Wilderness terminates, and the 
country is open and rolling. The battle Ix-^an before reach- 
ing the field of conflict, by an engagement Vietween the cav- 
alry who had marched in Warren's front, witli the en<Mny's 
cavalry. Warren pushed rapidly down the road, meeting with 
slight resistance, until he came into the clearing of about one 
hundred and fifty acres, which was Alsop's farm. Here he 
found the enemy's artillery posted, and ready to contest his 
advance across the Nj, an inconsiderable stream, but with an 
ascentling wooded slope on the other side. 

Warren posted his batteries on the right, Avliere he could 
command those of the enemy ; and after a fierce duel of can- 
non, he advanced Robinson's division to the assault. The in- 
tense heat of the day added to the labors and sufferings of the 
troops. Through two rebel lines he forced his way, but f(nind 
their third line protected by strong intrenchments. These he 
assaulted without success, until, re-enforced by a brigade of 
the Sixth Corps, on Sunday afternoon, he tlrove the rebels 
out, and captured their position near the blockhouse, inflict- 
ing u]K)n him a loss of fifteen hundred men. Generals Grittin 
and Robinson were particularly distinguished : the latter was 
shot in the knee early in the action, and disabled. The Sixth 
Corps was at once ordered up to take position on Warren's 
left, and the Second Coqis posted tem]iorarily at Todd's 
tavern. 

In thus advancing and seeking the enemy, every corps was 
more or less engaged during the day. Miles' brigade, of the 
Second Coqis, was vigorously attacked by the enemy at Cor- 
b^Ti's Bridge, but that gallant young oflficer, who had already 
been more than once severely wounded in former battles, pun- 
i.shed the insolence of the brigade of the enemy by first re- 
pulsing his attack, and then driving him from the field. 

Wilson, who had been sent forward to feel the way, actually 
penetrated into Spottsylvania Courthouse ; but as it was im- 



308 GRANT AND HIS CA:!*IPAIGNS. 

possible for the infantry to come to liis support, he was 
obhged to retire. 

The armies had now reached the scene of more desperate 
fighting ; and fully aware of what was before him, Grant 
spent the morning of the next day, Monday, the 9th, in prep- 
aration ; the Fifth and Sixth corps pressing the enemy, devel- 
oping his position, and seeking for pomts of attack for the 
deadly struggle. 

Early in the morning, two divisions of the Ninth Corps hav- 
ing been moved to the Fredericksburg road, had driven the 
enemy handsomely across the Ny. In the evening, the whole 
of the Second Corps moved up from Todd's tavern, and came 
into line on the right of the Sixth ; except Mott's division, 
which was sent to take post on the left of the Sixth. 

It was also on the 9th that Sheridan Avas sent on a co- 
operating and diversionary raid, to which we shall presently 
allude. 

Artillery was put into position ; divisions were marched and 
countermarched. Warren was in the centre. Hancock had 
now moved up on the right, and Sedgwick was on the left. 
The wings were throAvn forward, to encircle the corps of Hill 
and Ewell, which had reached the courthouse and taken po- 
sition some distance in front of it on Satui'day night. During 
these movements, Brigadier-General William H. Morris, com- 
manding Fii'st Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Corps, was 
severely wounded. A small creek, a branch of the Ny River, 
lay between the position of the enemy and that of Warren and 
Sedgwick, and also separated Hancock from Warren. 

GENERAL SEDGWICK KILLED. 

While strengthening the position, and when only a little des- 
ultory skirmishing was going on. General Sedgwick was in 
the front of the extreme right of his corps, with a few of his 
.staff, superintending the posting of some guns. An occasional 
shot from a sharpshooter whistled, with elongated sound, about 
the group, causing some of the men to wince. The general 



ON TO KU'UMONL). :)()[) 

joked them about thoir norvonsnoss', sayinp, " Pooli, men, 
they can't hit an olrphaiit at that distance." Tlio words had 
hardly passed his lips, when a hall pierced his face, just l)elow 
the left eye, and with a serene sniih^, as if connected with his 
last wonls, he fell, the blood strcaiiiiiif^ from his nostrils. He 
ditnl immediately, as he wouhl liave asked to die if he could 
have chosen the manner of his death. "Words of eulo^nuni 
which would seem like tlattery if spoken of other men, are in- 
adequate to express his virtues. A thorough soldier, a skilful 
general, and one of the very best of men, he was at once re- 
spected and beloved by all who knew him. Simple in heart 
and manner ; modest as a youth ; very generous to all around 
him ; never seeking his own aggi-andizement to the detriment 
of others, but rather preferring theirs to his ovm ; he was the 
modern example of Chaucer's " very parfit, gentil knight." 
Forever gi'een be the turf above his quiet grave at Cornwall 
Hollow, watered by the tears of friendship, and cherished by 
the pious care of patriot pilgrims. 

GENERAL WRIGHT TAKES THE SIXTH CORPS. 

The command of the Sixth Corps was now devolved upon 
General H. G. Wright, an engineer officer of distinction, 
whose after-career showed that he was eminently worthy of 
it. Burnside came into position on the extreme left, on the 
10th, to complete our lines around Spott.sylvania. HaNang 
established his lines. Grant now determined to test the 
strength, and find the exact positions, of the enemy. 

To this end, on the afternoon of Monday, he ordered a new 
advance. It had been a race for SpottsyJvania Courthouse, 
and the rebels, having the inside track, had won it by only 
ten minutes. 

We had now occupied Fredericksburg as a temporary 
depot of wounded, and ponton-ijridgi-s were laid below the 
town, so as to complete the communication with Aquia Creek, 
and thence to Washington. It was now Tuesday morning, 
the 10th of May. The position of the troops was substan- 



310 GRANT AND HIS CAilPAIGNS. 

tially the same as ou the day before. The euemy had been 
driven to his breastworks. Our line was complete : batteries 
covered our right flank, and also our left centre ; a dense 
forest was in our front. The enemy's centre was well advanced 
on a commanding ridge, protected by breastworks, forest, 
and underbrush, and the marshy ground of the httle creek 
1} ing on their front. 

Before moving to the attack, the general ordered a fire of 
artillery from all our batteries dui-ing the forenoon. The as- 
sault was then ordered to be made by portions of the Second 
and Fifth corps. The object was to storm and take the 
enemy's rifle-pits. The battle now raged along the whole 
line. Barlow's first division of the Second Corps was at one 
time flanked, but was soon extricated, without great loss. 

THE ATTACK ON SPOTTSYLVAXIA. 

Early in the morning, the divisions of Gibbon and Barlow 
were moved briskly across the branch of the Xy which sepa- 
rated them from the enemy, and assaulted his left, with the hope 
that they might turn his flank ; but finding it too strong, they 
retired, — Barlow, in his retreat, repulsing an attack by Heth's 
rebel division, but losing one gun, which, being jammed 
among the trees in a uaiTow road, he could not withdraw. 
After this. Gibbon and Bii-ney, in conjimction with the Fifth 
Corps, made a new and unsuccessful assault upon the enemy's 
line, in which the gallant Brigadier-General Eice, noted 
throughout the war for his personal intrepidity, fell mortally 
wounded. 

Late in the afternoon. Colonel Upton, with the Second 
Brigade of the First Division of the Sixth, and D. A. Bussell, 
in advance, with the Third Di^dsion, made a memorable and 
successful charge towards the close of the day. They sprang 
over the enemy's works, took upwards of a thousand prison- 
ers and several cannon, and only retired, being obliged to 
abandon the captured artillery, because they were so far in 
advance as to make the position perilous, and were not sup- 



ON TO lUCHMOND. 311 

porticl l»y ^[ott on their left. !\I.)tt, liowcviT, succeeded m 
forming connection with tho Ninth Coqis, which had nf)w 
movod to tho loft from the Frederickslnirj^ road. 

AlthouLcli tho camapi liad lieon so f^rcat as to make tlie 
losses on our side not far horn ten thousand, and the rebels 
not much loss, tho hattlo Avas indocisivo. Af,'aiii had tlu; rival 
generals divined each other's puqioses, and terriljlo shocks 
had boon the result. Thus ended the first day of the battle 
of 8p<ittsylvania Coiirthouso, and the troops rested on their 
arms, feeling sure that a straggle as desperate awaited them 
on the morrow, or, at least, at a very early time. 

Tho morning of Wednesday, the 11th, rose bright and clear, 
and tho closeness of contact of the two armies caused des- 
ultory fighting at many points, but no general engagement. 
We had lost very heavily, probably at least thirty-five thou- 
sand men, since the beginning of the campaign ; but we had 
taken many prisoners, had infiieted tomble losses upon the 
enemy, and re-enforcements were rapidly pushing forward to 
us, — among the material of which, it is a significant fact that 
there were hcary artillery trains, designed for siege service at 
Richmond. 

What General Grant thought of the military situation may 
be gathered fi-om the following hopeful dispatch to the Secre- 
tary of War : 

Headquarters nt the Field, May 11, 18<>4, 3 a. m. 

Wf have now ended the sixth day of very heaN-y fighting. The result, to 
this time, is much in our favor. 

Our losses have been hiavy, as well as those of the enemy. I think the 
lo88 of the enemy must be greater. 

We have taken over five thousand prisoners by battle, while he has tJiken 
from us but few, except stragglers. 

I rROPOSE TO FIGHT IT OCT ON THIS LIKE, IF FF T.VKFS AI.I, SU-MMER. 

U. S. GR.VNT, Lieutenant-Oeneral, 
Commanding the Armies of the United State*. 

No words could toll the story better. The last sentence is 
one of those eloquent epigrams, unconsciously uttered, of 



312 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

whicli the people immediately took hold, and upon which the 
changes have been rung ever since. It spoke volumes. 

At eleven o'clock on Wednesday, it is said that General 
Lee sent a flag of tnice to Grant, asking an armistice of forty- 
eight houi's to bury the dead ; and that Grant very properly 
returned an answer refusing it, and sapng that he had no 
time to bury his own. "We do not vouch for the story ; but if 
it be true, it indicates Lee's weakness, and Grant's determina- 
tion of advance. 

On tliis day, ha^-ing assiu-ed himself that the enemy's left 
was so well guarded and so strong as to foil our attempts to 
crush it, arrangements were made by General Grant to attack 
his centre at a salient point. 

Wednesday, the second day of the battle, was passed in 
manoeuvring, reconnoitring, and desultory skirmishing. Tlie 
enemy had strengthened his right and right centre with artil- 
lery, and it was evident that from that point he expected to 
make his strong counter-attack. But the prescience of Gen- 
eral Grant was not at fault. 

Eain fell during the afternoon, and under the cover of the 
heavy weather, Grant issued his orders to Hancock to leave 
his position in front of A. P. Hill, and, marching l)v the loft 
flank, to take posts between the Sixth and Nintli corps, so as 
to be ready to attack in thu morning. Hancock moved a little 
after midnight, favored by the storm and the darkness, and 
was in readiness at the time prescribed. Wright was du'ected 
to extend his left, to concentrate on that wing, and to be in 
readiness to assault. Warren was also to make a diversion- 
ary attack on the enemy's left, in his front, in order to keep 
him engaged in his lines at that point ; while Burnside, with 
the Ninth Corps, was ordered to assault ^dgorously on the ex- 
treme left. 



HANCOCK S FEAT OF ARMS. 

Tlie morning of Thursday, the 12th, daMniod, enveloped in an 
auspicious fog of great denseness. The orders were given in 



ON TO UICMMOND. 31.S 

silence. Tlio Soeond Cor])s was foriiuil in two lin. ^. l>;Lr- 
low, with tlic First Division, in double column of btittiilious, 
on the contn>, and Birney, with tlie Third Division, consti- 
tuted the thst lino; the Second and P'ourth, midcr (lihhon 
and Mott, formed the second lini>. Thf ))<>int of attack was 
a salient anj;lc of earthworks, held by Johnson's division of 
Ewell's corps. Silently and unseen, the corps moved upon 
the unsuspecting enemy. They passed over the nigged and 
densely wooded space, the enthusiasm gi'owing at every step, 
until, with a temblo charge, and a storm of cheers, they 
reached the enemy's works, scaled them in front and flank, 
suqirising the rebels at their breakfast, suiToiinding them, 
and capturing Edward Johnson's entire division, with its 
general ; two brigades of other troops, with their commander, 
Brigadier-General George H. Stuart ; and thirty guns. The 
number of prisoners taken was between three and four 
thousand. It was the most decided success yet achieved 
during the campaign. AVluii Hancock heard that these gen- 
erals were taken, he directed that they should be brought to 
him. Oli'ering his hand to Johnson, that othcer was so 
affected as to shed tears, declaring that he would have pre- 
ferred death to captivity. Ho then extended his hand to 
Stuart, whom he had known before, saying, " How are you, 
Stuart?" Init the rebel, with great haughtiness, repHed, "I 
am General Stuart, of the Confederate army ; and, under 
present circumstances, I decline to take your hand." Han- 
cock's cool and tlignitied reply was : " And under any other 
circiimstances, general, I should not have offered it." 

Hancock's pencil dispatch to Grant, within an hour after 
the column of attack had been formed, was in these words : 
" I have captured from thirty to forty guns. I have finished 
up Johnson, and am now going into Early." Early, it will be 
remendiered, also eommamled a division of Ewell's corps. In 
pursuance of this purpose, Hancock pushed upon the second 
line of ritle-pits, and, notwithstanding a desperate resistance, 
stormed and took it. Dut if the enemy had been suqirised in 
the. morning, he now made the most desperate efforts to 



314 GRANT AJST) HIS CAilPAIONS. 

recover liis lost gi'oiind. Thus tlie battle became general. 
The Nmth Coiios on the extreme leftj and the Sixth Corps on 
Hancock's right, were at once pushed forward to support 
Hancock's advance ; while on the opposite side, Ewell was 
re-enforced bv di^'isions fi'om the corjjs of Hill and Longstreet- 
While the battle was thus concentrated on our left, "Warren 
became hotlj engaged on our right ; but although he charged 
with great vigor and intrepidity, the enemy's position in his 
front was found to be impregnable. Thus for three hours 
the fighting continued ; but although we resisted the desperate 
attacks of the enemv upon Hancock and Bui-nside, it was 
evident that we could make no further advance. The ground 
was, in our front, swept by a storm of projectiles of every 
kind. The captured cannon, covered by the muskets of sharp- 
shooters on both sides, could not, for a long time, be secured 
by either, but were subsequently vdthdi-awn by the enemy. 
At noon it began to rain, but there was not an entu-e lull in 
the battle. The Fifth Corps, leaving only a weak line of 
skirmishers, was moved to the left, as it was found that the 
enemy was continually massing his troops in the same direc- 
tion. Neither general was deceived for a moment, and our 
attempts to turn the enemy's right, at once met by the rebel 
commander, were not successfid. Charge and countercharge 
were made until nightfall, and the carnage was terrific. 
When, at length, night jjut an end to it, the armies had fought 
for foiu'teen hours, and the losses on either side numbered 
about ten thousand. It would have been thought that neither 
army was in condition on Friday, the 13th, after such great 
losses, to continue the action. But there was a severe battle 
fought, of six hours' duration, between Bm-nside and A. P. 
Hill. The enemy fell back to a new defensive position, but 
the continuance of the storm, making the roads very heavy, 
for a time impeded rapid movement. Here we may jiause for 
a moment to consider what had been accomplished. If we 
had not succeeded in entu-ely routing the enemy, as only the 
ignorant or the oversanguine had expected, the Army of the 
Potomac had covered itself anew with glorv. The following 



ON TO lUCIlMoNI). ni.") 

onler of General Moatlo epitoinizos tlio work thus l",ii 
achieved : 

IIkadquarter!) Army or tiik I'otomao, 
Muy irj, ls64. 

Soi.DiKlia — Tho momt-nt has arrived when your commanding general ftx-ls 
authorizt'il to aildn-ss vou in tenns of congratulation. 

For i-ight days and nights, almost without intermission, in ruin and sun- 
shino, you have been gallantly fighting a desperate foe, in posit ions naturally 
strong, and rendered doul)ly so by intrenchments. 

You have compelled him to abandon his fortifications on the Hapidan, to 
retire and attempt to stop your onward i)rogres8 ; and now he has nbandone*! 
the last intrenched p<^)sition so tenaciously held, suffering a loes in all of 
eighteen guns, twenty-two colors, and eight thousand prisoners, including two 
general officers. 

Your heroic deeds and noble endurance of fatigue and privations will ever 
be memorable. Let us return thanks to God for the mercy thus shown ub, 
and ask earnestly for its continuation. 

Soldiers ! your work is not yet over. The enemy must be pursued, and, if 
possible, overcome. The courage and fortitude you have displayed renders 
vour commanding general confident your future efforts will result in success. 

While we mourn the loss of many gallant comrades, let us reniemlier the 
enemy must have suffered equal, if not greater losses. 

We shall soon receive re-enforcements, which he cannot expect. Let us 
determine to continue vigorously the work so well begun, and, uinder God's 
blessing, in a short time the object of our labors will be accomplished. 

Geokge G. Me.\de, 
Major-General commanding. 

Official, S. Williams, A. A. G. 

Approved, U. S. Qrakt, Lieutenant-General, 

Commanding the Armies of tho United States. 

Botli in a metaphorical and literal sense, we were now 
" (Hit of the woods ;" we had the prostij^'e of advance, and the 
enemy had been constantly, altlunigh slowly and sulk-nly, 
falling back. Our losses had been very heavy, but had been 
fully made up by re-enforcements. They may be stated as 
foUows : from the crossing of the llapidau to May I'ith — 
killed, two hundred and sixty-nine officers and three thousand 
and nineteen enlisted men ; wounded, one thousand and sev- 
enteen officers, and eighteen thousand two hunilied and sixty- 
one men ; missing, one hundred and seventy-seven officers, 



316 GRA^TT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

and six thousand six hundi-ed and sixty-seven men. Total, 
twenty-nine thousand four hundi-ed and ten. On this account 
the rebels amused themselves by giving Grant the cognomen 
of "butcher." The name, however, is entirely misapphed. 
There never was a kinder or more considerate general ; but 
the carnage in these first battles was an absolute, although 
painful, necessity. No man in that army thought otherwise 
then, and no one abated a jot of heart or hope ; and if the 
end crowns the work, even the rebels will now confess that 
Grant's butchery finally slaughtered the rebellion, when noth- 
ing else would have done it. 

It was now Saturday, the 14th. The enemy still held on to 
Spottsylvania Courthouse, well intrenched in a semicu'cular 
line. Our army was closed upon him with a concentric em- 
brace, stretched at right angles across the Fredericksburg 
road. Finding him so strongly intrenched. Grant commenced 
to throw up rifle-pits for protection. The fighting on this day 
was desultory, and principally on the enemy's right, which he 
was constantly in fear that we should tiu-n. 

WHO RETKEATS, GRANT OR LEE? 

If, as General Meade's order indicates, we were satisfied 
with our successes, the rebels were equally so with what they 
called theii' own. They asserted that " what we represented 
as the retreat of General Lee towards Richmond, was only a 
movement from a position abandoned by his adversary, to 
confront him across the new road which he was obliged to 
take." " In this sense," says Pollard, " it was Grant who was 
pursued." Be it so, but it is very like the story of the man who 
caught a Tartar. General Lee is by no means so self-com- 
promising as this. It is true that in his General Order of May 
14, he announces to the army a series of successes ; but, in 
specifying them, he names the Yalley of Virginia, the attack 
upon Averill, the defeat of General Banks, the retreat of 
General Steele, and what ho calls the repulse of the cavalry 
force \inder Sheridan. All that he has to say of his own 



ON T(» UICilMOND, :>17 

action is tliis : "The heroic valor of this army, with thf 
blcssin;^' of Almighty Ciod, has thus far chocked the ]»riiic;i{)al 
army of the enemy, and inHictrd uj)on it t(>rril)lo losses." Wo 
need not wast«> words nor torture language. Driven or hul, 
or proni])tiMl by what«ner motive, Lee's army was moving 
southward towards Richmond, constantly refusing its right 
flank, and being severely ])unished at every stand it made. 
It had been characteristic of the press on both sides, as well 
as of the early dispatches of rival generals, in most campaigns, 
to make out as fair a case, each for himself, and as dark a one 
for the enemy as possible. This is not right in the abstract, 
but before we entii'ely condemn it, we must remember the ele- 
ment of expediency. The people behind either army were 
eager and impressible, and the intelligence was often toned 
down or dressed \ip to suit them ; and besides, morally wrong 
as it is, the study of history shows us a universal military 
precedent for this. The truth follows slowly, and when we 
are prepared by slow degi'ees for the bad news. 

Every thing remained quiet from this time until the 18th, 
the intervening period being passed in manceuvring and 
waiting for re-enforcements. Dui-iug the 10th, there were 
more changes made in the position of the coi-ps, and new 
dispositions were made of the cavalry and artillery, the former 
being moved out towards the Kichmond and Fredericksburg 
llailroad. 

The desperate shocks which had been sustained by both 
armies, and the bad condition of the roads on account of the 
rains, made the suspension of hostilities necessary. The time 
was also spent in making pro^•ision for the woimded. As the 
direct route to Washington was beset by guerrillas. Frailcr- 
icksbui-g had been occupied as a depot. A large number of 
surgeons and agents of the Sanitary and Christian commis- 
sions had been sent down, and a route had been esta])lished 
by steamboats and gunboats, by way of Aquia Creek and 
Belle Plain, to Washington. It was now manifest, that if the 
army moved again to the south, Fredericksburg must bo 
abandoned, and other points selected as depots ; tirst, on the 



318 GRAKT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

Rappahannock, as at Port Royal, and afterwards on the 
Pamunkey and York. 



THE LAND AHEAD. 

Let us now look for a moment at the pnncipal features of 
the topography in front of Grant. Spottsylvania Courthouse 
lies between the Ny and the Po ; further South are the Ta 
and the Mat rivers, and the four streams join near the rail- 
road, south of Bowling Green, to form the Mattapony. 
These present inconsiderable mihtary obstacles in themselves, 
but might be used by the enemy as natural intrenchments, 
while mo^dng southward to New Market Beyond that, the 
country becomes more difficult ; the North and South Anna, 
with a hundred tributary creeks, present gi'eat obstacles. 
The Pamunkey, which they form by theii' junction, is an im- 
portant river-defence to the enemy ; and still further south the 
Chickahominy is a strong line covering the approaches to 
Richmond. To these difficulties is to be added the very 
desperate and gallant resistance oflFered by Lee's army. 

Li consideration of aU these, it began to be demonstrated 
that Grant might be forced to pursue his alternated design, 
and continue to march alongside of the enemy by the left 
flank, between the Mattapony and the Pamunkey, and cross- 
ing the latter river out of his reach, confront him upon the 
former battle-grounds of Cold Harbor and Gaines' Mill. But 
Grant was loth to come to this determination without another 
trial of the enemy's strength. Sending Torbert with the caval- 
ry eastward to Guiney's Station, on the railroad, he massed his 
forcee on the enemy's left, on the night of the 17th, and pre- 
pared to assault in the moniing. The attack was made with 
great gallantry upon EwelFs corps, Avitli the design of turnmg 
Lee's left, but was not successful, and an admirable rijwste 
was made by Ewell. On the afternoon of the 19th, he made a 
bold attempt to turn oiy right. That portion of our line was 
held by Tyler's division, and Eatching's brigade of heavy artil- 
lery, acting as infantry, most of whom were under fire for the 



ON TO UICHMOND. 319 

first time. Ewoll'a votcrnns caino on at a cliarf^o, and drovo 
thorn back to the cover of tlie woods ; Init they heltl their re- 
tired position with commendabh* bravery, until IJirney came 
up with tlie Third Division of the Second Corps, in supjjort. 
A vij^'orous char<;e of our combiucd forces drove the (memy 
from the liekl. Some of Warren's troops that were on the ex- 
treme right participated in the success. 

A NEW FLANKING MOVE^fENT. 

Con-\-inced, by the nature and the point of the enemy's at- 
tack, that he was making ready again to aV)andon his position, 
Grant at once issued orders for a new movement. At mid- 
night on the 20th, the main body of the cavalrv, which had 
been posted at Mattaponax, followed Torbert to Guiney's 
Station, and advancing, drove the enemy's cavah-y away from 
Guiney's Bridge and Downer's Bridge, on the Po, both a 
short distance west of the raihoad. Bowling Green was then 
occupied without a fight. But at MiKord Station, on the rail- 
road, the enemy were drawn up, with artillery and ritle-]nts, 
to contest the possession of the railroad-bridge across the 
Mattapony. At this point there had been concentrated quan- 
tities of stores for Lee's army, which we might have captured. 
But spies and traitors in our camp had given timely informa- 
tion ; and although we flanked the enemy and drove liim away 
precipitately, the stores were gone. This movement of our 
cavahy was designed to clear the way for the advance of the 
grand army l)y the left flank. Here we shall leave the direct 
advance for a short time, to consider the collateral parts of 
the great ]n-ogi'amme. 



320 QBANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 



CHAPTEK XXX. 

CO-OPERATING MOVEMENTS. 

Bhzridan's raid. — The battle of Yellow Tavern. — J. E. B. Stuart killed. — 
The raiders reach the James. — Fortunes of Sigel. — Defeated by Breckin- 
ridge. — Butler's movements. — His dispatch. — Beauregard's attack. — Uek- 

METICALLT SEALED. — KaUTZ's RAID. — StaNTOX'S DISPATCH. — BuTLER's FAILURE. — 
How THE WANT OK CO-OPERATION AFFECTED GraNT. 

The co-operating movements whicli Grant had, as vre have 
seen, so skilfully and carefully prearranged, claim a place in 
the history, not only as parts, although subortlinate, of the 
great campaign, but also, and especially, because they display 
new traits of genius and skill on the j^art of the gi'eat com- 
mander. The failui'e of some of these caused him to alter his 
plans under the pressure of circumstances, and gave him a 
thousandfold additional trouble. The first that vre shall con- 
sider, because it was made by a portion of the Ai*my of the 
Potomac, and may be considered indeed a part of its move- 
ment, is the very successful, well-conducted cavahy raid of 
General Sheridan, to aid our advance by cutting Lceis com- 
munications with Richmond. 

Sheridan's raid. 

This gallant and self-confident general moved from Spott- 
sylvania at daylight on Monday, the 9th of May, with portions 
of the three divisions of his corps, — General Merrit, with the 
Fii'st Division, leading ; General Wilson, with the Third, in 
the centre ; and General Gregg, with the Second, bringing up 
the rear. His first direction, to deceive the cucmv, was 



CO-OPKRATINli M(>VP:MENTS. 321 

towards Frcclcrifksbur^'; but whim within tlirco miles of that 
city, lie turned Houthwjird, passcMl riipidly alon^ the euemy'H 
rif^ht ll.uik, cliittly liy tlio Niggcrfoot road, to Child's Ford, 
)ind tliencc to the crossing of th(» Nortli Anna by Anderson's 
I5ri(lge. He captured thu Beaver Dam Station on tlie Central 
llailroad, destroyed two locomotives, three trains of cars, ten 
mih\s of the railroad track, and ()n(> million five hundred thou- 
sand rations. Here also he recaptured four hundred of our 
men who had been captured in the recent battles, and were 
b(>ing taken to the horrors of the Ijibby ])rison at Fiichmoud. 
With our later knowledge of the atrocities, committed in the 
rebel prisons, this latter alone was a suflUcient achievement, 
had nothing else been done. At the Beaver Dam Station they 
were violently attacked by the enemy in flank and rear, and 
mot with some inconsiderable losses, but their advance was 
not long impeded. 

On Wednesday morning, the 11th, Sheridan marched to the 
crossing of the South Anna Biver at Ground Scpiirrel Bridge, 
and sent one brigade, imder General Davies, to Ashland Sta- 
tion on the railroad. There Davies burned the depot, de- 
stroyed six miles of the track, with the culverts and army 
bridges, and returned unscathed to the main body, which had 
been pur.suing its march southward. 

Hearing that the enemy's cavalry was in force at Yellow 
Tavern, Sheridan advanced boldly, by the way of Glenallen 
Station, to meet him. Here he crossed swords with the re- 
doubtable General J. E. B. Stuart, and drove him away with 
loss. Stuart, no less anxious for battle than Sheridan, opened 
the fight, by attacking our advanced brigade, under Devens, 
which might have been overpowered had it not been ]u-omptly 
supported by the brigades of Custer, Gill, and Wilson. The 
greatest loss to the enemy, and a corresponding advantage t<i 
us, was found in the fact that General Stuart was mortally 
wounded in this action. This otlicer was perhai)s the best 
(tavalrv general in the rebel service. A graduate of West 
Point in the class of 1851, he had resigned his commissi(m in 
the United States army to join the rebel cause ; and being 

21 



322 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

constantly engaged in Virginia, had greatly distinguished him- 
self in many battles, and particularly in bold raids on the 
flanks and rear of our army. He had now met more than his 
match as a raider, and his death at the hands of a raiding 
party. A man of such skill and untii'ing energy should have 
fallen in a better cause. 

Pursuing his advantage gained at Yellow Tavern, Sheridan 
made a bold dash upon the outer defences of Richmond. 
Having gained the Brook Pike, which lay west of the Yellow 
Tavern, he charged across the Brook creek or river against 
the first Hne, which he carried, Custer's brigade even captur- 
ing a section of artillery and a himdi'ed prisoners. Finding 
the second line too strong, and thoroughly commanded by 
redoubts and bastioned works, and the enemy's troops rally- 
ing to the defence, Sheridan recrossed his advanced troops, 
and retii-ed rapidly to the passage of the Chickahominy at 
Meadow Bridge. To cut ofi" his retreat, he foimd that the en- 
emy had partially destroyed the bridge, and had commanded 
the ruins by a force of infantry from Pachmond. He rebuilt 
it hastily under a galling fire, and then detaching a force to 
watch the enemy on his right flank, he moved rapitUy through 
Mechanics ville, by a shght detour through Cold Harbor, to a 
second crossing of the Chickahominy at Bottom's Bridge. 
After crossing he destroyed the bridge ; nd proceeded to Tur- 
key Bend, where he communicated by messenger with General 
Butler. His weary troopers reached Haxall's, on the James, 
on the 14th of May. 

As compared with the encounters of large armies, the terri- 
ble shocks of battle, in which thousands fall, such exploits as 
this of Sheridan's bold riders are for the time eclipsed ; but 
this expedition, conducted with rare address and dashing 
valor, produced moral efl'ects upon the enemy which cannot 
be ignored. It is, besides, one of the beautiful and logical 
steps in the progi'ess of Sheridan's reputation, which found 
its acme of glory in the last days of the great war. 



rO OVVAl ATIN'O M( )V KM KNTS. 323 

TIIK I'OUTUNES OF STOF.L. 

In uocord.uici' with the prociso instructions from General 
Grant, to which wo have already referred, Sigel's movements 
in the Vallfv and in Western Virpnia wer(^ commenced on 
the 1st of May. 

He confided the immediate command of the Kanawha expe- 
dition to G»>neral George Crook, who divided his forces into 
two columns, one of which was under General W. "\V. Arerill. 
I>()(li colunms, starting from Charleston, on the Kanawha, 
crossed the mountains by separate routes. Without attempt- 
ing to present the details of their march, it is sutlicicnt to our 
pni-pose to know that the column under Averill struck the 
Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, near Wytheville, on the 
10th, and then moved, not iriimpeded hy the enemy, to New 
Kiver and Christianburg. Averill destroyed the New River 
Bridge, skilfuUy eluded the gatluTing forces of the enemy, but 
did not succeed in destroying the lead-mines. He joined 
Crook at Union, in Monroe County, on the loth. 

Crook, leaving Charleston on the same day, with three bri- 
gades, advanced rapidly, with the puqiose of striking the rail- 
road at Dublin Station, between Wytheville and New River. 
Fighting the enemy, as he marched southward, at Princetown, 
and near the southwestern base of Lloyd's Mountain, he ad- 
vanced to the railroad, drove them through Dubhn, and de- 
stroyed the railroad eflfectually, southwestward as far as New- 
beme. A large force of the enemy now ajipearing, he did not 
attempt to advance upon Lynchburg, but marched northward 
to Meadow Bluff, in Greenbrier County. This double expe- 
dition, although it had frightened the enemy and dra\Mi off 
his troops, had not succeeded as a co-oj)erating column. 

Let us now turn to Sigel. This ofHcer, in accordance with 
his instructions, had moved with a force not far short of eight 
thoiisand men, xip tlu> Shenandoah Valley, as far as Newmar- 
ket, a town near the Mana.ssas Ciap Railrt)ad, about fifty mile^ 
fiom Winchest^'r. and midway between Mount Jackson and 
Harrisonburg. To meet him and contest his advance, the 



324 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

rebel General Breckinridge had been sent bj Lee to gather up 
all the forces he could hastily collect, and, leaving Jenkins and 
McCausland to resist the advance of Crook and Averill, to fall 
upon and beat Sigel. Could Sigel succeed in beating him, 
and make a triumphant advance upon Staunton, and then 
strike right or left at Lynchbm-g or Gordonsville, the as- 
sistance to Grant would have been of incalculable value. But 
he was very far fi'om such success. He made an entire fail- 
ure, in part due to himself — that is, as far as concerned the 
battle which he fought with Breckinridge ; and in part, as far 
as all further movements were concerned, to the want of co- 
operation in Crook's force. 

On the 15th of May the armies of Sigel and Breckinridge 
met in the shock of battle ; ;iud although the enemy lost 
greatly, Sigel Avas di'iven back and entirely defeated, losing a 
portion of his train, six guns, and one thousand prisoners, and 
abandoning his hospitals. He retired behind Cedar Creek. 
Thus one part, and an important one, of General Grant's com- 
plex plan had been ship^i-ecked, and the rebel forces which 
had opposed the columns of Sigel came back, with all the 
prestige of victory, to swell Lee's forces, and make the work 
of the army of the Potomac still more difficult. 

Without loss of time, at the request of Grant, Sigel was re- 
lieved, and General David Hunter placed in command. We 
shall allude to the part he played, a little later in the nar- 
rative. 

It is time now to examine the co-operating movements of 
Butler ; for ujjon these Grant had placed a still stronger de- 
pendence. 

butler's movements. 

Butler's force consisted of the Eighteenth Army Corps, 
commanded by General W. F. Smith, and the Tenth, com- 
manded by General Quincy A. Gillmore. The former of these 
generals was held in great repute for his gallant services in 
the Army of the Potomac, when under McCleUau and Burn- 



CO-OrKUATlVE MOVKMKNTS. 325 

side, and for liis skilful and rapid cnfj^inoorinf^ at Cliattan()(»«,'a. 
Tho lattrr had ^'aiiud {^ncat rciioun by liis iiia<^'niHcc'nt ap- 
proachos on Morris Island, and his inatchkss artilh^ry practico 
against tho city of C'harlrston. 

At th(> opening of the campaign, I>utl(>r"s army was concen- 
tratiid at Yorktown and Gloucester, apparontjy threatening to 
move upon lliehmond upon the old track of General McChsl- 
lan. To give color to this view, a cavalry force, eighteen hun- 
dred strong, was sent to West Point, at the bead of the river, 
l)ut with tho real design of marching across the country and 
joining tile main body when it should have gained a footliold 
on tho James River. 

On the 4th of May, Butler embarked his forces on trans- 
ports, but did not move until after dai-k, when he went rapidly 
down the York and up the James, unobserved by the enemy. 
Leaving one brigade of colored troops at Wilson's wharf, un- 
der General Wild, two regiments at Fort Powhatan, and 
Hink's division at City Point, he landed the main l)ody at Ber- 
muda Hundred, a very strong position on the south bank of 
tho James, in the bend of the river, three miles al)Ove the 
mouth of the Appomattox. Here he rapidly intrenched him- 
self, and the navy gunboats were placed to guard the flanks. 
Bermuda Hundred, Avhicli has become so famous a name in 
the history of the campaign, was not a town, but, when he oc- 
cupied it, boasted ten or twelve old-fashioned houses, and a 
few negro cabins. 

When he was ready to start from Yorkto-uni, he had also 
sent General Kautz, with a cavalry force, to operate on the 
railroads south of Petersburg and Richmond. 

Thus far the expedition, cleverly conducted, had been a 
complete surprise to the enemy. Wo had gained a most val- 
uable ])oint south of Richmond ; and could our troops have 
boon at once pressed ft)rward in full force, gi*eat things might 
hav(> been oftected. 

The fith of ^lay was spent in making reconnoissances, and 
on tho 7th, General Brooks, with five brigades, was sent to 
destroy the railroad between Richmond and Petersburg. After 



326 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

considerable fighting, this force succeeded in destroying a 
railroad-bridge about seven miles north of Petersburg, and 
tearing up a portion of the track ; but the enemy, sagacious 
and rapid, and now thoroughly alive to the condition of things, 
sent a heavy force, and our troops were compelled to retire. 
Little had been gained. Again a day intervened, and on the 
0th, Butler dispatched three divisions of the Tenth Army 
Corps, and two of the Eighteenth, for a more thorough 
destruction of the raih-oad. This force was successful in 
destroying the track ; but after a night battle, in which they 
suffered terribly, they were compelled to fall back to their 
original position. General Butler's dispatch to Secretary 
Stanton, on the 9th, epitomizes his successes in far too 
decided and hojDeful a vein. We give some of the para- 
graphs : 

" General Kautz, with three thousand cavalry from Suffolk, 
on the same day with our movements up the James Paver, 
forced the Blackwater, burnt the raih'oad-bridge at Stony 
Creek, below Petersburg, cutting in two Beauregard's force at 
that point. 

" We have landed here, intrenched ourselves, desti'oyed 
many miles of raiboad, and got a jDosition which, with proper 
supphes, we can hold against the whole of Lee's army. I 
have ordered up the suppUes. 

" Beauregard, with a large portion of his force, was left 
south by the cutting of the raihoads by Kautz. 

" That portion which reached Petersburg, under Hill, I have 
whipped to-day, killing and wounding many, and taking many 
prisoners, after a severe and well-contested fight. 

"General Grant Mill not, be troubled with any further re- 
enforcements to Lee fi'om Beauregard's force." 

This dispatch needs no comment. Those who follow the 
narrative will be astonished to find how much General Butler 
was deceived at this time. But the fighting was not over. 
These troops of Beauregard were to trouble both ]3utler and 
Grant. Indeed, the evening of the very day upon which this 
dispatch was written must have opened his eyes. More time 



CO OPEUATIVi: MOVKMKNTS. 307 

was lost in rrsting tlio trof)ps wliirh wrn> (lriv«'n hiick on tho 
night of tlu' Dtli ; and on tho morning of Thnrsiliv, tho 12tli, 
Smith ami Ciillmoro again movod forward, advancing their 
coq)s to tlu^ railroad and northward — Gilhnoro towards Chostcr 
Station, and Smith by the right, along tho rivor-lmnk, towards 
Dmry's Bluff and Fort Darling. This movement, vigorously 
conduotod, ]»romised to make all right again. Crossing tho 
railroad, CJillmoro advanced towards Chostorfiold Courthouse, 
and then diverging to the right, joined Smith, against whom, 
it was evident, the enemy was now massing his troops. Still 
advancing, they encountered an outer line of intronchmrnts, 
running across the railroad to the river. 

On the evening of the 13th, and the morning of the 14th, 
Gillmore carried the first lino in his fi'ont with comparatively 
small loss, and General Smith the first lino on tho right ; and 
the enemy retired to his second and stronger line. 

^liilo nlan(l'U^^•ing to attack tho interior redoubts, which 
commanded tho outer line, Butler received, in battle form, tho 
true storj' of Beauregard's appearance. That general had 
collocted the loose forces in North and South Carolina, and, 
but little impeded by Kautz's gallant raid, had come up t<i 
take command of the forces and country south and east of 
Richmond, against Butler. 

beauregakd's attack. 

On the morning of tho IGth, under cover of a thick fog, he 
made a violent onslaught on our advanced ti-oops. First 
attacking the extreme right, luM by Heckman's brigade, 
Woitzol's division. Eighteenth Coqis, he drives it back, and 
captures its commander. Moving by tho turnpike, another 
force drives Ashley's battery from the field, but he saves 
his guns. Smith's troops behave with the greatest gallantry ; 
but the rebels attack his line at all points, only making feints 
upon Gillmore, who forms the left. Smith's coqis is pressed 
back. Gillmore sustains the charges now tlirected upon him, 
and even moves to flank the rebel attack ujwn Smith, when 



328 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

orders come up from General Butler to fall back. He has lost 
thi-ee thousand men ; and in spite of gi-eat gallantry on the 
part of generals and men, he finds his army hermetically 
sealed in Bermuda Hundred, by intrenchments of the enemy 
close and paraUt-l to oiu- own. He can hold it with a cor- 
poral's guard ; but troops there are of no earthly use to 
Grant : they must be withdrawn and employed elsewhere. 

KAUTZ'S RAH). 

Kautz makes another splendid raid ; but it is now, as the 
French have it, apropos de rien : it has no bearing on Butler's 
plans. In itself, however, it deserves special commendation. 
Starting again on the 12th (he had only returned from the 
former raid on the 8th), he moved against the Danville Kail- 
road. He first struck it, not far from Richmond, at Coalfield 
Station ; thence following the track, he reached Pow^hatan, 
and, crossing the Appomattox, he came to Chola. At these 
points he burned the depots, tore up the track, and destroyed 
two freight-trains, one locomotive, and a quantity of stores. 
Losing no time, he then pushed dowTi the river by Goodes' 
Bridge and Devil's Bridge, and then southw^ard to Wilson's 
Station, on the Southside road. This station, qi,well as those 
at Welville and Black-and- White, he destroyed ; and then he 
made his way through Laurenceville and Jonesboro' to Jar- 
rett's Station, on the Weldon road, and thence to City Point, 
which he reached on the 17th. 

On the same day, General Butler telegraphed to Washing- 
ton the success of Kautz's expedition ; but either he was not 
communicative in regard to the condition of affairs within his 
own Hncs, or Mr. Secretary Stanton thought it prudent to 
withhold the information. The dispatch to which Ave refer is 
as follows : 

War DEr.vKTiiENT, Washington, May 17 — 9 r. m. 
Ma.ior-Generax Drx : 

Dispatches from General Butler, just received, report the success of his 
expedition under General Kautz, to cut the Danville road, and destroy the iron 
bridge across the Appomattox. 



CO-OPEHATIVE MOVKMENTS. 329 

On Montlny morning, the rncmy in forcr, und^r cover of a thicl; fop, niiide 
an attack unon Sinitli'H line, and forced it Imck in some confuHion, and witli 
considerable los-s. But as soon as the fog lift«'<l, (Jmeml Smith ro-cstablishiHl 
his lines, and the enemy was driven back to his originiii lines. 

At the winie time, the enemy made an attack, from Peterni)urp, on Qeneral 
Buth-r's forces fjiianling tlie rear, but were handsomely rej)ulsed. 

The troops linviui,' been on inces.snnt duty for five days, tliree of which were 
in a rain-stonn, (lemral Butler retired h'isurely within his own lines. W<- hold 
the railroad between Petersburg and Richmond. 

Persons state that Bragg and Davis wore present on the field. 

Edwln M. StaA'TON, Secretary of War. 

No amoimt of olcgtmt euphemism can conceal the fact, that 
whatever the causes, the movements south of Richmond liad 
ended in himentable failui'e — a failure not due to want of 
good intentions, nor to lack of energy, but apparently to a 
want of military .srtro//' /aj/r. According to that .simple defi- 
nition of strategy, " the art of directing masses against 
decisive points," or " masses against fragments," he had 
faih'd at the outset of the campaign, by tlividing and detach- 
ing forces, instead oi moving his whole force. Instead of 
moving at once, valuable time was lost in these detaclied 
movements. His army was badly handled. He assumed a 
weak offensive, indicating a want of military knowledge and 
experience ; ii^l a bitter, brave, and exasperated enemy, who 
was deficient in neither, turned the tables upon him by taking a 
strong oflensive, beat him, followed him to his intrenchments, 
and hemmed him in so closely, that he was fain, wliile protected 
by the gunboats, to hurry his own defences to completion. 

Grant was indeed bestt, not simi)ly by rebel armies, led by 
skiKul and brave generals, but by Federal failures ; — Sigel 
defeated in the west, and Breckinridge? re-enforcing Lee with 
about fifteen thou.sand men ; 13utKr defeated at the south, 
and Beauregard free to send Lee a gi*eat part of his troops. 
It was necessary for him to modify, without materially alter- 
ing, his plans ; and he movt-d with tiu> Army of the Potomac, 
to try an alternative thought of at the beginning — the cross- 
ing of the James, and the miion of the armies under his own 
eye and command. 



330 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 



CHAPTEK XXXI. 

FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO THE CHICKAHOMINT. 

ToK CORPS MOVE.— Re-knforcements. — ^Losses from May 12 to 21. — Ox the North 
Anna. — Withdrawn. — Sheridan's return. — Crossing of the Pamunket. — 
Change of base. — Sheridan holds Cold Harbor. — Losses from May 21 to 
81. — W. F. Smith detached from Butler. — The battles of Cold Harbor. 
— The crossing of the Chickahominy. 

Let us now return to the Army of the Potomac, "vnth which 
Grant had his headquarters, and which, when we left it, was 
preparing to follow its cavaby advance, under Torbert, march- 
ing by the left flank to its new destination, and to carry out 
plans modified for the reasons presented above. Hancock's 
(Second) coi-ps moved silently, at midiright of the 20th, fi-om 
its position on the Ny, near the courthouse, and marching by 
the left, in the track of the cavalry, to Bowling Green, crossed 
the Mattapouy at Milford Bridge, which Torbert had ^\Tested 
fi-om the enemy, capturing one hundred prisoners. The 
onemy presenting* himself closely iipon his right and rear, 
Hancock formed in line of battle, about one mile south of the 
river. 

At daylight on the morning of the 21st, Warren, with the 
Fifth Corps, pushed after Hancock, in connecting distance, 
driving away that portion of the enemy's force which was 
again clustering around Milford Bridge. In this new order 
of movement from right to left, the whole army was ymt in 
motion during the day. But- to cover the operation, Burn- 
side, before he moved with the Ninth Corps, tlirew out Ledhe's 
brigade in a strong skirmish line, thus maldng a demonstrft- 



FROM SPOTTSVLVAMA 'lO THi: CHICK AIlo.MINY. .'jm 

tiou to rotiiiii tlit> tiu'iiiy in position. JI.- tlicn witli(ln;w lii.s 
corps uftor nij<litf;ill, niid by Ji round.iljout nuircli, rendered so 
by sniuU bodies of tlit" enemy whicli obstnirt.d liis direct 
adviinee, he arrived at Bowlin^,' Green at fonr o'eloeiv <ni tho 
afternot)n of the 'J2d. The next mornin;^' lie joined tho 
advanced corps at Milford Station. 

The Sixth Corjis, under Wri«,'ht, also left its ])lac(' in line on 
tho evenin*,' of the 21st ; and while n-tirintj; from Sjiottsyl- 
vania. it was attacked by the enemy in force, and witli ^Tcat 
desperation, but tln^ assault was handsomely re]H'lled l)y 
Ivus.seH's tlivision, aud the further march unmolested. 

The enemy, entii-ely acquainted with our movements, was 
ni'ver for a moment irresolute. At one o'clock on Friday 
night, not more than an hour and a half after Hancock had 
moved, Lonf:jstreet's corps followed close upon its right, to 
contest its advance and block its further progress. 

Meantime, re-enforcements of men, cavalry horses, and sup- 
plies were pouring down to Grant's army, and preparations 
were busily made for the new depots that were hereafter to 
supj)ly him. Oiu* losses, from the 12th of May to the 21st, 
were as follows : Killed, one hundred and fourteen officers, 
and two thousand and thirty-two enlisted men ; wounded, two 
hundred and fifty-nine officers, and seven thousand six hun- 
dred and ninety-seven men ; missing, thirty-one ottit'ers, and 
two himdi-ed and forty-eight men ; — total, ten thousand three 
hundred aud eighty-one. 

The powers of the Lieutenant-general were now most severely 
taxed and tested in the manoeu\Ting of a very largo armv, in 
an extremely difficult aud thoroughly hostile country, and in 
the face of a desperate enemy, fighting for the salvation of his 
capital, and, with it, for the very life of his cause. In tho 
flanking movements which he had inaugurated, and in which 
he must now persist until he should take more permanent 
ground scMitli of liiehmond. Grant's flank was constantlv 
exposed. His troops must be kept well together ; and he must 
bo always ready to form in line of battle, to receive the 
enemv's attacks. 



332 GRANT AND HIS CA3IPAIGNS. 

It was now the morning of the 22d of May, and the entire 
army — less the corps of BurnsiJe, which was still en route — 
had reached the banks of the North Anna, and were thus dis- 
posed : The Fifth Corps was near Jericho Mills, Avith the 
Second on its left, reaching to the railroad, and covering Tay- 
lor's Bridge. 

The North Anna has in that vicinity three important fords 
— Island, Jericho, and Chesterfield or Taylor's Bridge fords. 
About two or three hundred yards in front {i.e., north) of Tay- 
lor's, is Long Creek, a small run parallel to the river. The 
gi'ound between forms a httle peninsula, occupied by the 
Second Corps. The bridge-head in their front was a redan, 
with its faces touching the river, and protected by batteries 
and rifle-pits on the southern bank. At this bridge the 
enemy made a determined stand. Hancock at once made his 
dispositions to drive them away and gain the bridge. Throw- 
ing out a cloud of skirmishers, he moved Birney's division to 
the attack, and by a determined charge this force drove the 
enemy away ; and without occupying the bridge, batteries 
were at once placed in position to command it and keep the 
rebels at a distance. 

Determined to regain it, and perhaps also to cover his pur- 
pose of falling back, the rebel commander made a rush for- 
ward at eleven o'clock that night, but was hurled back with 
great loss. Another charge made at midnight was more suc- 
cessful, and they seized and held the bridge until morning ; 
but as Hancock moved forward with his corps to cross it, the 
enemy sullenly retired, having failed in his efibrts to burn it. 
Hancock now crossed the North Anna in force. Warren, on 
his right, crossed at Jericho Ford, and both corps thi'ew up 
slight intrenchments. 

ON THE NORTH ANNA. 

It was niglitfall on the 22d before Burnside came up, and 
after some skirmisliiiig with the enemy at Oxford, took post, 
on both banks, between Hancock and Warren. Wright, witli 



FROM SPOTTSVLVANIA 'lO TIIK ClII' 'K AIloMINV. 



Xi'.', 



tlu^ Sixth C'()rj)s, lUiirclaHl to take position on tiu; ri;,'iit (jf 
Wainii ; juul tlms thoy lay for tlio two following tlayH, to 
await tlu' ontMny's movonitMits. This space of tinio HorveJ to 
develop the fact that the enemy was still strongly in onr front, 
posted in a wedge form, with the angle or ajn^x pointing to 
the space between Hancock and Warren. He was thus 
threatening the weak jioiut in our line. 

It may be well to state the positions a little more mmutely. 
Tlie Sixth Corjjs was on the south side, on our right, crossing 
the Central Eailroad, and extending to Little River. Next on 
its left, and all south of the river, was the Fifth Coqjs. To 
the left of it was only a portion of Buruside's coi-ps (one 
division), the rest being on the north l)ank. Hancock, with 
the Second, occupied the left, having two divisions on the 
south bank, and one on the north. The enemy's dispositions 
enabled him, by the aid of strong intrench ments, to cover 
Sexton's Junction with his right ; while his left was appuyee 




On The North A 



u})on Little River. At the same time he threatened our hne in 
front of Burnside, while secure fi-om our attacks. We were, 
therefore, in a very disadvantageous position. We could 
hope little from an attack in front ; and should the North 



334 GRANT AND HIS CAJfPATGNS. 

Anna become suddenly swollen by rains, the position was 
perilous in the extreme. Thus reasoned the Heutenant-gen- 
eral. As soon as full information was received, he had recourse 
to his flanking tactics. He directed Warren and Writdit to 
make a demonstration in their front, threatening the enemy's 
left ; and he sent Wilson, %nth a cavahy force, to destroy the 
Central Raih-oad thoroughly. Under cover of these opera- 
tions, he prepared for the ncAv movement by the left. Thus 
the 24th, 25th, and 26th of May were spent on the North 
Anna. 

The corps were withdrawn, as in the former movement, one 
after the other, beginning on our right. Only a strong skir- 
mish line was left to engage the enemy's attention ; and then, 
on Thursday evening, the 27th, the Sixth Corps, recrossing 
the river, took up its line of march, followed by the Fifth, 
Ninth, and Second. Thus again the enemy was compelled to 
abandon his strong position, and -mo^e, pari passu, with our 
army ; while Grant steadily pushed down towards Eichmond, 
without imcovering Washington, at least to any considerable 
advance of the enemy, for a single day. 

Sheridan's eetijkn. 

The cavalry expedition of Sheridan, to which we have 
already referred, after remaining three days at Haxall's to refit 
and supply, had started on its return march on the 17th of 
May. On the 18th he was at Baltimore Cross-roads, south of 
the Pamunkey, near White House. On the 21st, a party 
destroyed two bridges and a long stretch of railroad-track, not 
far from Hanover Courthouse. Striking out in every direc- 
tion, he encountered and drove a party of the enemy's cavalry 
across the Chickahominy, on the same day ; and on the 23d 
he crossed the Pamimkej' at White Houso. On the 2oth he 
reached Milford, and joined the Ai-my of the Potomac. A 
two-edged sword, his march soutliAvard had cut the enemy's 
communications, while his return march prepared the way for 
the southern movement of our army. 



FKOM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO THE CHlCKAnOMlNV 335 

Ho was not iiUowod for a moment to rest. On the ni^lit of 
the 2Gtli he moved, with two cavalry divisions and Russell's 
infantry division of the Sixth Corps, down the Panuinkey ; 
and by noon of Friday, the 27th, he hatl seized tlio ferry 
crossing at Hanoverto\vn, and thrown a ponton-bridge across. 
Tliis feny is only fifteen miles from Richmond. 

Tlio problem now was to put the whole army across, aban- 
doning all northern bases. In anticipation of this, a large 
quantity of siipplies had been sent by transports, around by 
way of "West Pomt, to ^Hiite House on the Pamunkey. It 
was just two years, within ten days, since the White House 
had been the headquarters of General McClellan, who, respect- 
ing it as formerly tlie property of Washington, had refused to 
occupy it, but had planted his tent in a neighboring meadow. 
But the ruthless spirit of war is no respecter of persons or 
})roperty, and it was afterwards used, like other buildings, as a 
military depot. 

The crossing of the Pamunkey by the Grand Army occu- 
pied the 27th and 28th of May. The Fifth and Ninth corps 
crossed at Hanover FeiTy, while the Second and Sixth made 
the passage at Huntley's Ford, above. 

The change of base thus eflfected gave the enemy great con- 
cern, although they affected to indidge in some ribald pleas- 
antries on the occasion. Grant had, after all his terrible losses, 
only come upon McClellan's old ground, without accomphsh- 
ing any thing but " butchery." But behind this was an ill- 
concealed tremor. The army that had driven them do'wn in 
spite of all their efforts — that had inflicted terrible losses upon 
them — was, by one means or another, slowly but surely 
approaching Richmond, and evidently intended to continue 
lighting to the end. A long way from the old bases, they had 
estabhshed new ones. The troops were in capital spirits, most 
anxious to be led against the enemy. Tlie weather was beauti- 
ful. The jesters about the change of base wished CJrant much 
further off. The country, too, was satisfied. If he was to 
take Richmond, ho must go to it, and he wa3 always on the 
direct road. 



, 336 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

Our scouts ba\'ing reported that Breckinridge was uear 
Hanover Courthouse, on our right, with five thousand in- 
fantry and Wickham and Lomax's brigades of cavah-y, a 
reconnoitring force was sent iu that direction to check their 
advance, while we steadilj moved southward. In this move- 
ment, the advance of Sheridan's cavaky, proceeding towards 
Mechanicsville, encountered the enemy at Hawe's shop, near 
the crossing of the Tolopotomy, after a severe conflict, in 
which he lost four hundred men, drove them back, and held 
the crossing until they were reheved by the Second Corps, 
which came up rapidly for the pui'pose. 

The 29th was Sunday. Our army was entirely across the 
river and three miles beyond ; and Grant, having tliscovered 
the positions and forces of the enemy, now made his disposi- 
tions to meet them. Lee's army was now more than ever 
specially arranged for the defence of Richmond. In a general 
way, his line may be described as forming a concave towards 
ours. His right was extended beyond Shady Grove and 
Mechanicsville ; his centre covered Atley's Station, on the 
raihoad ; while his left stretched in the du'ection of Hanover 
Courthouse. His army, on the alert, was prej^ared to follow 
every motion of ours. 

On Monday, the 30th, the Ai-my of the Potomac was thus 
disposed : Hancock having been pushed forward, reheving 
Sheridan, on the road from Hawe's shop, towards Atley's 
Station, pushed the enemy across the Tolopotomy, and occu- 
pied the centre. Warren having advanced, skii-mishing with 
the enemy on the road to Shady Grove Church, formed the 
left. Wright, who had been ordered up on the right of Han- 
cock, had for a short time occupied Hanover Courthouse, but 
closing down to his left, now formed the right wing. But on 
the 30th, the Ninth Corps, which had been in rear of om* left, 
moved into the space between Hancock and Warren, and 
pushed out on the road towards Polo Green Church. One 
division of cavalry, under Wilson, covered our right and rear, 
while those of Torbort and Gregg were moving in front of the 
left — the pickets well thrown out on the Cold Harbor road. 



FK(»M SPOTTSTLVANIA TO THK CI I ICK A HOMINY. 337 

Tlius, with all its antennre feeling for the enemy, the armj 
slowly advanccHl. 

^V CAVALRY 




At two r. M. of the 30th, the cavalry pickets on our left, 
which wore advancing by the Cold Harbor road, were driven 
in, and Warren — whose advance, gradually mo-\nng to the left, 
was then near Bethesda Church — was violently attacked by a 
division of Ewell's corps, at about five o'clock. His left flank 
was for a time endangered by the vigor of the enemy's assault ; 
but by the timely arrival of the divisions in rear, the enemy 
was repulsed, and then driven back by a road parallel to the 
Cold Harbor road. As soon as General Meade heard of the 
enemy's assault upon AVarren, he issued orders for an attack 
along the whole line, in order to turn the brunt from Warren ; 
but most of the corps commanders did not receive the order 
in time. Hancock, however, did, and with most commendable 
promptitude he advanced Barlow to the attack, drove away 
the enemy's skirmishers, captured their rifle-pits, and held 
them all night, in spite of a mitlnight attack of the enemy to 
recapture them. 

We pause for a moment to give a summary of our losses, 
from the time of taking position on the North Anna to tho eve 
of the engagement at Cold Harbor,—/, e., from the *2Lst to the 
31st of May. They had been trifling in comparison with our 
former losses : Killed, twelve ofiicers, and one hundred and 
thirty-three enlisted men ; wounded, sixty-seven oflicers, and 
one thousand and sixty-three men ; missing, three oflicers, 
and three hundred and twenty-four men ;— total, one thousand 
six hundred and seven. 

22 



338 GRANT AND HIS CAJIPAIGNS. 

As it was now manifest to Grant that Butler had a much 
greater number of troops than he could use, he was directed to 
send to the army with Grant all the surplus troops forming the 
Eighteenth Corps, under Major-General WiUiam F. Smith. 
This corps having taken transports at City Point, had moved 
down the James and up tlie York and Pamunkey rivers to 
White House. Grant's headquarters dui-ing the 31st were at 
a point five miles southeast of Hanover Coui'thouse, where 
he could best direct the momentous operations upon which he 
was now to enter. Preparatory to these, Wilson was dis- 
patched with a cavahy division to Hanover Junction, to 
destroy the track and the raih-oad-bridge over the Aima, and 
thus prevent Lee from detaching troops northward, if he 
should be inclined to do so. This Wilson efi'ected completely, 
defeating and driving away a force of the enemy's cavahy 
which had been sent to prevent it. 

To check oiu" direct advance — to cover the Chickahominy, 
Eichmond, and the Virginia Central Eaih'oad near the city — 
the corps of Ewell, Longstreet, and Hill were di-awn up in line 
parallel to our front, and their cavalry was posted eii vedette, 
on both flanks, as far as Hanover Coirrthouse on theu' left, 
and Bottom's Bridge on their right, — a long line in observation, 
soon to be broken up and move in accordance with our move- 
ments. Still intending to move by the left flank, Grant now 
directed Sheridan to push forward to Cold Harbor, a point 
which it was important to secure before moving his whole 
army to the left. Sheridan moved forward rapi^Uy, Torbert's 
division in advance, and seized the convergence of the roads ; 
but no sooner had he done so, than the enemy, equally im- 
pressed with the value of the position,* came upon him with 
overwhelming numbers. Sheridan sent word back that he 
was hard pressed, but was directed to maintain the position at 



* Grant had secured a position, the importance of which was that it was 
the point of convergence of all the roads, radiating, whether to Riclimond (his 
objective point), or to White House (his base of supplies). — Pollard, " Third 
Ye.^ of the War," p. 270. 



FHOM SPOTTSYLVANIA To TIIK CHICK AHOMINY :{.•{;» 

all hazards, until he cnuld bo rdicvrd by tin; infantry. TIk; 
contest was unciiu.i! .ind very severe, but this gallant olHcer 
held on with a tenacious gi-asp which the enemy could not 
shako oil", for the space of twenty-four hours ; when the arrival 
of the Sixth Coi-ps, under Wri;.,'ht, and W. F. Smith's VA'^h- 
tcenth corps, from the White House, reUeved him from his 
peril. Hoke's division had been hurled upcjn him twice to 
drive him out, but in vain. Wright came up on the afternoon 
of June 1st, ami, immediately proceeding to attack, we forced 
th(> enemy from parts of his first line, forcing him to fall back 
to a second one. AVright then took post in front of Cold Har- 
bor, on the road to Gaines' Mill — Ricketts' division on the 
right, PvUiAsell in the centi'e, and Xeill on the left. It was now 
past three o'clock, when Smith brought up his corps, after a 
severe march of twenty-five . mUes fi-om Wliite House, and 
formed rapidly on the right of the Sixth — Martindale's divi- 
sion on the right, W. H. T. Brooks in the centre, and Devena 
on the left. Unimpaired by the fatigues of the march, these 
splendid fellows rushed at once upon the enemy in their front, 
I'rossing an open space and a small fringe of woods, and Ijurst 
upon the enemy's ritle-pits, capturing five hundred prisoners. 
It was in vain that the enemy made vigorous attacks during 
the night, and posted batteries enfilading our line. They 
were unable to recapture their works. Our losses, which were 
about two thousand, were of course greater than those of the 
enemy, who sustained the princi^ial attack behind his in- 
trenchments. 

The result of tliis severe fighting was that we held Cold 
Harbor, and tluis were enabled to cover White House, and 
continue our southern movement. 

Our line of battle on Thursday, the 2d of June, extended 
from Cold Harbor to Bethesda Church, Hancock, on the 
left, occupied Cold Har])or. On his right was the Sixth 
Corps ; then in order the Eighteenth and Fifth ; while Burn- 
side, who had been drawn in to Bethesda Chui'ch, formed the 
right. 



d40 



GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 



,B. CHURCH 



/ 



/ 



18 6. 

I / 



2 C, HARBOR 




N.COLD HARBOR 



GAJNEfS MILL 



COLD HAKBOB. 

On Friday, June 3d, a new movement was begun, at four 
o'clock in the morning, and resulted in one of the most ter- 
rible and hardly contested battles of the war. Before making 
a new advance by the left flank, Grant determined again to 
try the strength of the enemy, and he had issued orders that 
an assault should be made upon him along the whole line. 
At the specified time, all moved forward with varying fortune. 
Hancock, on our left, advanced, with the divisions of Gibbon 
and Barlow, up the slope in his front, which was swept by 
a terrible artillery fire. So vigorous was this attack, that the 
enemy was pushed out of his works, and thro^oTi back upon 
his second hne. But here he rallied, threw in a fearful enfi- 
lading fire upon our advance, and in turn drove it out in hot 
haste to seek shelter from the iron storm ; but not so rapidly 
as not to take with it three hundred prisoners and one color. 
Not content with this, however, the enemy attacked our lines 
furiously again and again, but were repulsed. 

Quite similar to this was the fortune of the attack made by 
our centre, under Smith and Wright. They also carried the 
works in their front by a splendid charge, but were driven out 
by the enemy, and forced to throw up intrenehments near his 
works. As the enemy had massed heavily on oiu* left and 
left centre, the principal fighting was in front of those corps 
and when it was found that we could not diive him fi-om h.:s 



FK().^^ SPOTTKYLVANIA TO THK ("lIICKAIIdMINY. 341 

intronchmoiits, ofTciisivo ojx'rations ceased, at about eleven 
o'clock. 

The fighting in front of Warren and Bumsido was unim- 
portant ; Imt liiirnsidc rejjortod tliat he had can-ied an ad- 
vanced line in his front. During the eiitirt^ day the enemy 
made wild charges against Qur lines, which were never suct 
cessful in bn^iking them. 

On our extreme riglit, Wilson liad l)ccn posted with the 
Third Cavalry Division, and there he came in contact with 
the cavalry of Wade Hampton, which he drove away. There, 
too, he fell u2)on an infantry brigade of Heth's division, which 
had been sent to envelop Burnside. He drove this force back, 
and took from it a number of prisoners. 

The battle of the Chickahominy, or Cold Harbor, may be 
regardeil from several points of view ; and our opinion con- 
cerning it will vary with each. As a combined general move- 
ment against the enemy, to drive him away, and to uncover 
the bridges of the Chickahominy, forcing him into liiehmond, 
it was not a success. As an eflbrt to maintain a most strat- 
egic point, and to strike him a severe blow, under cover of 
which Grant might throw his army unmolested south of the 
James, it was by no means a failure. As a shock of arms, in 
parallel lines, with the right wing of the enemy strengthened, 
it was a drawn battle ; — adding another to the many illustra- 
tions, that when troops of about the same excellence meet, 
under equal circumstances, in a mere trial of strength, force 
neutralizes force, and each party will reel back under the 
double momentum. 

But if Cold Harbor was to Grant a battle of alternatives, — 
if he had determined, could he drive the enemy back, to take 
immediate advantage of it, and follow him across the river, 
and up to the fortifications of Richmond, — it was now evident, 
that failing in this, it was not possil)le, by a rapid flank move- 
ment in either direction, to intei-pose between him and the 
city. He now at once determined again to pass around Lee's 
right, join the Army of the Potomac with that of Butler, and 
lav siege to the southern defences of the redoubted capital. 



342 GRANT AND HIS CAJSIPAIGNS. 

He might still have moved against Lee's left, and thus con- 
tiuiied to " cover Washington ;" but he would have had a 
distant base, a long line of communication to guard, and 
would have left open to the enemy all his vital southern com- 
munications. 

Sheridan was holding the lower crossings of the Chicka- 
hominj, and covering the roads to om* new depot at AYhite 
House. 

Our losses had been about seven thousand five hundred, 
while those of the enemy were comparatively slight. General 
R. O. Tjler was severely wounded, being for some time after 
in danger of losing his foot. 

We were now in another decade of battles, Uterally fi'om the 
1st, when Torbert held the courthouse, to the 10th of June, 
while we Avere pushing the enemy and perfecting arrangements 
for the crossing. 

Burnside reported that the enemy had withdra^vsTi from his 
fi'ont ; and the reason of this was soon manifest. 

On the 4th we were slightly intrenched in Lee's front ; and 
at nine o'clock at night he made a vigorous attack upon the 
Second, Sixth, and Eighteenth corps in line, and after a severe 
action, with all the terrible but magnificent concomitants of a 
night-battle, he was driven back. 

During Sunday, the 5th, we continued the work of uitrench- 
ing. The Knes were very close, — so close, that the sharp- 
shooters did excellent work on both sides, by picking off the 
officers and men in the trenches. At half-past eight, "o-ith 
commendable activity, the enemy sallied out and assaulted 
Smj'th's brigade of the Second Division of Hancock's corps ; 
but being manfully met with firmness and steel, he was again 
compelled to retire discomfited to his own lines. It should 
have been said that Burnside was withdi-aAMi from the extreme 
right on the 4tli, and posted between Warren and Smith. So 
also on the 6tli, while we still contiinied intrenching on our 
loft and centre, Warren was withdrawn and massed in rear of 
the centre. A night attack on Biu-nside was again repelled. 

The result of the liard fighting of the few past days was 



FROM SrOTTSYLVANIA TO TUE CUICKAUOMINY. 343 



JWf 



JU\E r; ,, 



J'jygr 7,. 




now painfully manifest in the great mimber of unburied dead 
and suireriug woimded lying between the two armies. After a 
correspondence between Grant and Lee, dictated by humanity, 
an armistice of two houi's was agreed upon, dm-ing which the 
dead were buried and the wounded removed. 

Again the operations of the army became problematical ; 
and while considerable re-enforcements were reaching the 
army. Grant digested the details and co-operative portions of 
Ills new plan. He had seen that in the entire movement fi'om 
the Eapidan, the enemy had been upon the defensive, willing 
to risk nothing, assuming occasionally a dashing but epheme- 
ral oflfensive, and always falling back, when pressed, behind 
well-selected and thoroughly prepared inti-enchments. To 
beat Lee's army, therefore, as had been his desu-e, north of 
Richmond, he found was impossible, without gi-eater losses 
than he was willing to incur. He thi-refore determined to 
hold the gi-ound which he then occupied for a few days. 
During this time he proposed to send Sheridan, vnth two 
divisions of cavah-y, to destroy thoroughly the Virginia 
Central Raih-oad, and then to advance and join with Hunter, 
who Grant hoped would meet him at Charlottesville. The 
result of this combmation would be, to destroy all railroad 
communications between Richmond and the Shenandoah 
Vallev, and also between Richmond and Lynchburg, and then 
to join Grant. The second and great part of the progi'anime 
was for Grant to move the Armv of the Potomac to the south 



344 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

side of the James, by the enemy's right flank ; and thus cut 
off" all his sources of supply, except by the canal. A beautiful 
programme — destined, however, as we shall see, to fail, through 
the ill-siiccess of some of his lieutenants, and fortuitous cir- 
cumstances entirely beyond his control. 

To aid him in carrying out the latter portion of the move- 
ment, Butler was directed to send Gillmore to capture Peters- 
burg if possible, and to destroy the railroad crossing and com- 
mon bridges over the Appomattox. We shall refer to these 
subordinate movements presently. 

On the 7th of June the Second Corps was extended to the 
Chickahominy. The Fifth was removed by the left flank past 
the rear, and a portion of it marched to Dispatch Station, on 
the York Eiver Railroad ; while the divisions of Griffin and 
Cutler moved down towards Sumner's Lower Bridge, which, 
on reconnoitring, they found in possession of a large force of 
the enemy. To feel the nearest crossings below, Torbert and 
Gregg skirt the river to Bottom's Bridge. The enemy has 
extended his line that far. He cannot extend it much fui'ther, 
without so weakening it by the tension as to ofi'er opportuni- 
ties to break it. 

Below Bottom's Bridge, are Long's Bridge and Jones' 
Bridge, the former six miles below, and on the direct road 
from White House ; the latter about ^^ix miles further down, 
on a direct road to New Kent Coui'thouse on the north, and 
to Charles City Courthouse on the south. 

Our losses fi-om the 1st to the 10th of June, in what may be 
called the battles of Cold Harbor, were : Killed, one hundred 
and forty-four officers, one thousand five hundred and sixty- 
one enhsted men ; wounded, four hundred and twenty-one 
officers, eight thousand six hundi'ed and twenty-one men; 
missing, fifty-one officers, two thousand three hundi'ed and 
fifty-five men ; — total, thirteen thoiisand one hundred and 
fifty-three. 

The projected movement of Grant must have been known 
to the enemy, but it was accomplished with such cleverness 
and dispatch, that it was, after all, of the nature of a surprise. 



V 



FUO.M SPOTTSYLVANIA TO TIIE CIIICKA HOMINY. .345 

Ho directed the iramedinto destruction of the railroad from 
Dispatoli Station, near the Chiekahoniinj, to White House; 
and tiikin^' all the rails, sleepers, and ties to the latter place, 
had them shipped on barges for use below. This occupied the 
10th an.l nth. 

The crossing of the Chickahominy began on the evening of 
the 12th (Sunday). Wilson's division of cavalry marched to 
seize the crossing at Long Bridge, and took position on the 
Long Bridge road, beyond where it crosses White Oak Swamp. 
The Fifth Corps followed in his track, Crawford, with the 
Third Division, joining Wilson on the morning of the 13th, 
and with him repulsmg all the efforts of the enemy to advance 
upon our flank. The Second Corps, leaving Cold Harbor on 
the night of the 12th, then crossed, also at Long Bridge, 
passed the Fifth, and thus forming the advance, marched to 
the James River, which it struck at Wilcox's wharf, between 
Charles City Courthouse and Westover. 

The Si.xth and Ninth cor])s crossed at Jones' Bridge, en- 
tirely immolested, and marched to Charles City Courthouse. 
The immense trains, making a wide detour to the south, 
crossed principally at Coles' FeiTy, twelve or fifteen miles be- 
low Jones' Bridge. Smith's (Eighteenth) corps, which had 
been doing temporary but most valuable service with the 
Army of the Potomac, was now relieved. On the night of the 
r2th it was marched to the White House, where it took trans- 
})orts to sail down the York and up the James, again to report 
to Butler at Bermuda Hundred. 



346 GEiLNT AND fflS CAMPAIGNS. 



CHAPTEK XXXn. 

SOUTH OF THE JAMES. 

ThB CROSSINO of tee J AitES.-^PETEKSBUKG. — GlLLMOKE BETIEES. — KaTTTZ ATTACKS. — 

Smith's kew assault.— The corps come up kapidlt. — Butlek moves forward. 
— The new assault ox the city — Not successful. — Sheridan's expedition. — 
New movement of the armt. — Against the Weldon road. — Deep Bottom. — 
Wllson's raid. — Temporary rest. 

The grand crossing of the James was next in order. 
Transports having been assembled, the Second Corps began 
crossing in them at noon. Under the direction of General 
Butler, General Godfrey Weitzel, the chief-engineer of the 
Department of Virginia and North CaroHna, had selected 
points ; and General Benham, arriving on the 14th, had laid 
ponton-bridges near Wilcox's -wharf, and opposite Windham's 
Point. The bridges were a triumph of pontoneering skill. 
They were two thousand feet long, and the channel-boats were 
anchored in fifteen fathoms. They were ready by midnight. 
The army had been well massed around Charles City Court- 
house ; and the crossing, which was made both by the bridges 
and by the ferry-boats, was effected in a most admii-able man- 
ner, and was not materiallj- molested by the enemy : it occu- 
pied Tuesday and Wednesday, the 14th and I5th of June. We 
did not lose more than four hundred men in all its casualties. 

We must return now to the promised aid which Grant was 
to have in the attack by Butler's troops upon Petersburg, 
which, it will be remembered, Avas a part of Grant's new plau. 



SOT'TIT OF THF, JAMKS 3J7 

Before doinf^ so, lot us cast a glance at the city and its en- 
vinms. It is situated on the south bank of the Ap])omattox, 
and througli it the great Southern railroad runs. It is twenty- 
two miles fi-om Kichmond, and about ton from City Point, 
where the Appomattox empties into the James. Vessels of 
one huiulretl tons go up the rive'r to tin; wharves of Peters- 
burg, while those of larger tonnage imload at Walthall's, six 
miles below the city. A canal takes smaller vessels past tin; 
falls, just above the city. It is the third city in size in Vir- 
ginia ; but it was ttj have a remarkable military value as the 
gi\and strategic southern outpost to Richmond. Indeed, in all 
the military operations, it was quite as important as the caj)ital. 
There is a raili'oad from it to City Point ; another to Norfolk ; 
the third, already mentioned, runs? south to Weldon and be- 
yond ; while the Southside Raih'oad runs to Lynchburg. Of 
these roads, the \Ha\ ones were those connecting it with Rich- 
mond and the Southside roads. The enemy's dispositions 
were admii'ably made to cover them both. The works, weak 
at the lii'st, were rajudl^^' strengthened. These consisted of 
continuous lines commanding each other, and flanked by 
strong batteries, square redoul)ts, and other inclosed works. 
Southeast of the city a gentle ridge rises, shutting it out from 
our view and our guns, except at a few points, and this was 
strongly occupied by the rebel lines. 

Grant had gone in person to Bermuda Hundred to arrange 
the plan which contemplated the seizure of the town, before 
these works had become so strong. The result was, that 
General Butler had dispatched Gillmore with a small force — 
thirty -five hundred men — on the 10th of June, to cross the 
Appomattox near the Point of Rocks, to move by the river- 
turnpike directly upon the city, and captiue it, if possible, 
while it was yet too weak to resist a coiip-de-imnn. 

Simultaneously with this movement two gunboats and a bat- 
tery were to attack Fort Clinton below the city ; and thirdly, 
Kautz, with a detachment of cavalry, fifteen hundred strong, 
was to move across the Norfolk Railroad and efl'ect an entrance 
on the south. On the 10th, Gillmore moved without molesta- 



348 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

tion until he came upon the works two miles from the city. 
He drove in the enemy's skii-mishers, but on account of the 
small number of his own command, and the apparent strength 
of the works, he was deterred from assaulting, and marched 
back to his camp. Kautz, the hero of this assault, crossed 
the railroad, and marched so rapidly and secretly, that he 
penetrated into the town ; but the enemy, unemployed on Gill- 
more's front, concentrated, fell upon Kautz's troopers, and 
drove them away. 

Gillmore's force should have been double, and the attack 
could not have failed. As to the propriety of his withdrawing 
without an attack, we have not the necessary knowledge to 
consider the question. In such reciprocal movements it is the 
greatest of pities, whatever the cause, that either party should 
fail the other. 

With characteristic energy, unimpaired by these failures. 
Grant hurried in person to Bermuda Hundred, and there gave 
Butler verbal instructions to dispatch Smith with the Eigh- 
teenth Corps, just arrived from White House, at one o'clock in 
the morning, and with all the troops which could be spared, 
without endangering the safety of his position, to Petersburg. 
He said he Avould hurry back to the Army of the Potomac, 
and pour it down, division at a time, without delay, and thus 
could re-enforce Smith more rapidly than the enemy could con- 
centrate there. This the enemy was attempting to thwart ; 
he was in great force south of Richmond, A. P. Hill's corps in 
advance. Smith was at once set in motion. He crossed the 
Appomattox on a ponton-bridge near the Point of Eocks, 
and following Gillmore's route, moved upon the northeast 
defences of Petersburg, from the Appomattox round for a dis- 
tance of two and a half miles, reaching his ground before day 
on the IGtli. A partial attack was made on some advanced 
lines by the colored troops under Hincks, who behaved with 
(u)mmcndablc gallantry, capturing a line of rifle-pits and two 
twelve-poimders. But we are ignorant of the causes which 
led Smith to delay his attack on the main works until late in 
the afternoon. 



SOl'TII OF TIIK JAMKS. 349 

Just beforo tlui scltiiit^' of the sun In; inovod to tho attuck 
of theso, and liis ;^MlIautry and impetuosity woro rewarded by 
the capture of the entire lino of rifle trenches. Tlie ene- 
my, routed, left behind as trophies for Smith three hundred 
prisoners, sixteen {^uns, and a battlc-fla^. Our loss was not 
more than six hundred. In i^nioranco of what lay behind 
these captured works. Smith did not pursue his advantage. 
It is now known that there were no works of im])ortance be- 
tween theso and Petcrsburfr. The night was clear, and there 
was a brilliant moon. Smith, however, made no further offen- 
sive operations that night. General Hancock came up just 
after nightfall with two divisions of the Second Corjis, and 
coiu-teously waiving his right to take the command fi-om a 
general who had studied the gi'ound, and already obtained a 
brilliant success, he placed the di^-isions of his corps under 
Smith's orders. Portions of these divisions were sent, at 
Smith's request, to reheve his own troops in the captured 
works, and there was a cessation of hostilities until morning. 
The auspicious moment for capturing Petersburg by a roup-de- 
maiti had passed. The enemy was now pouring down troops 
to defend it. Grant had fulfilled his promise of sending down 
the Army of the Potomac without a moment's delay. Hancock 
had moved without suppHes. On the same day, the loth, he 
had also ordered Warren to cross at early daylight by the 
ferries, and push forward. He reached Petersburg on the 
evening of the 16th. The Sixth, under Wright, was thus 
moved : the artillery and one division to Petersburg, and tho 
other two divisions to City Point, Burnside, with the Ninth, 
reached Petersburg about noon on the IGth. These dispo- 
sitions having been carried out by General Meade, that officer 
proceeded to City Point, and from thence to Petersburg. Ho 
met General Grant on tho road, and, after con.sultation, was 
directed by him to assume the immediate command of the 
troops in front, and to assault at once. The position of our 
troops was just in front of the works captured by Smith on 
the loth. After that capture, Martindalo hail l)een on the 
right, against the river, Brooks and Hineks occupied tho 



350 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

centre, and Kautz covered the left with his cavaky. As the 
Army of the Potomac arrived, the Second Corps had come on 
Smith's left, and the Ninth on the right of the Second. Warren 
had taken post stni on the left, to extend our hne around the city. 

Meade, on leaving Grant, returned to the front at two p. m., 
and after consultation with the corps commanders, he ordered 
the Second and Ninth coi-ps to assault. The attack began at 
six o'clock, and the fighting continued until six in the morning, 
with varying success. It was a terrible battle-night ! Birney, 
of the Second Corps, stormed the advanced crest in his front. 
Barlow made a \'igorous attempt, but was unsuccessful, losing 
a portion of his sku-mish hne. The brigades of Miles and Grif- 
fin, of the Fifth Corps, which came up during the night, suc- 
ceeded in taking and holding a portion of the Hne in their 
front. Smith's (Eighteenth) corps only made a demonstration, 
as an assault was not thought by him to be expedient in his 
front. 

Diu-ing the night of the 16th, Neill's division, of the Sixth 
Corps, came up as expected — the others remaining at City 
Point — and at once relieved Brooks' division, of the Eigh- 
teenth, which, with General Smith, returned to Bermuda 
Hundred. Martindale was left in command of the remauider 
of the corps. Burnside, at the beginning of the assault, had 
encoimtered so terrible a fire, that he was unable to attack ; 
but the next morning, at the earUest dawn, he du-ected Potter 
to take the work in his front, which was gallantly done. AVith 
the work were captured four guns, many prisoners, and sev- 
eral colors. Ledhe, who relieved Potter's stormcrs, pushed on 
to an additional success, and occupied the enemy's hues, dis- 
tant one mile and a lialf only from the city. From this point, 
a few shells were thrown into Petersburg. Had the enemy 
permitted us to occupy these hues in peace, he could not have 
long held the town.- But he did not. His troops were now 
poiu-ing in in great numbers. He organized an overwhelming 
counter-assault for that night ; and after licavy fighting, recap- 
tured his works. Petersburg was now in condition to resist 
any attempt by a sudden storming. 



SorTII OF TIIK .lAMKS. 



351 



BUTLER MOVKS rollWAKD. 

General l>iitl(r discovcrinfr that tlio ciuMiiy, concerned about 
the safety of Potorsburg, had witlubawn a larj^o body of 
troops from his front, moved forward an ex]iediti()nary party 
on the inth, to (h'strt)}-, and if possibh^ hohl, the raihoad be- 
tween Richmond and Petersburg. To aid this movement, 
Grant ordered the two divisions of the Sixth Corps (which, it 
will bo remembered, had not gone to Petersburg, l)ut were 
embarking on transports at Wilcox's wharf, for City Point) to 
proceed at once to the aid of J>utler. These troops arrived in 
time, but were halted at some distance from the advance to 
rest ; and l)efore they could come up in support, the enemy, 
with clear vision and vigorous attack, had forced Butler's 
troops back from the works they had captured, had reoccupied 
them, and had strengthened theii' lines permanently at that 
point. 

THE NEW ASSAULT ON rETERSBUKO. 

Warren, it has been said, had come up during the night 
of the 10th, and taken post on the left of Burnside, thus ex- 
tending our hues further around the place. During the 
17th, our line was strongly posted, firmly adjusted, and gi*adu- 
ally moved up towards the enemy. Grant had now deter- 
mined on a general assault the next day. The corps were 
thus disposed fi'om right to left : That portion of the Eigh- 
teenth Corps which had remained under Martindale and 
Hincks occupied the right, extending to within a .short ilis- 
tancc of the river-bank ; Neill's division, of the Sixth, oc- 




352 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

cnpied tlie right centre ; the centre was formed by the Sec- 
ond Corps ; the left centre bj ihe Ninth ; and the left by the 
Fifth Corps. 

At four o'clock on the morning of the 18th June, the skir- 
mishers moved forward along the whole line ; but to their aston- 
ishment found the enemy withdrawn fi'om their second line, 
and strongly intrenched on an interior line, one mile nearer 
the city. 

Although Grant still determined to assault without delay, 
it was necessary to make a change in the order of battle. 
Instead of an attack in line, points were to be chosen which 
might be attacked in column — the columns to be followed by 
the Hues in rear as reserves. In front of the Second Corps, 
three brigades of Gibbon's division were organized into an 
attacking column. These devoted men moved gallantly up to 
the enemy's lines, near the City Point Eaib-oad ; but success 
was not possible. The rebel works on the left poured in a 
terrible enfilading fire upon Gibbon's advancing lines, and 
drove them back to seek shelter. 

Martindale, on the right, encountered less opposition, and 
succeeded in occupying the enemy's skirmish line, and taking 
some prisoners. This was at noon. At four in the afternoon, 
General Birney, who was now temporarily in coniuumd of the 
Second Corps, — as Hancock was suffering fi'om an old wound, 
— formed a new column of attack, consisting of Mott's divi- 
sion and regiments detached from the other divisions. These 
•jvere moved rapidly forward to attempt the dubious task ; but 
again success lay with the intrenched enemy. Torrents of 
musketry fire and tempests of artiUcry swept our men down, 
arrested their advance, and finaDy drove them rapidly back, 
after great loss. 

The efforts of the Fifth and Ninth corps, on our left, were 
not more successful. We had, however, accomplished one 
thing : we had extended our lines across the Norfolk Kailroad, 
and were gaining ground steadily to the left. We had also 
determined the facts that Lee's army, or the gi-eater portion 
of it, now confronted us at Petersburg ; that little could be 



SOUTH OF THE JAMES. '353 

gained by direct attacks upon a bravo and vif^ilant enemy, 
strongly intrenched ; and that wo must resort to regular 
approaches, and constant attempts to enrirclo the enemy's 
right, and cut him off from the Soulhsidf Railroad. 

From AVednesday, the 15th, up to nightfall of Saturday, tho 
18th, there had been continuous fighting of the most (h^sperato 
character ; and partly from want of celerity, partly from tho 
skill and quickness of the enemy, the resvdts had not been all 
wo could have desired. To the un military eye it would seem 
that we had gained nothing ; but this is an erroneous estimate. 
We had taken some firm steps, and accomplished some im- 
portant results. City Point was secured as an important base 
and depot, to remain so until the end of the war ; we con- 
fronted tho enemy closely, and kept him in his Lines ; and we 
threatened his right, requiring him to make a great extension 
in that direction. In a word, Grant had laid iipon the devoted 
city of Richmond the first coil — ever tightening — of that ana- 
conda grasp, never to be released until the monster should bo 
strangled and lie lifeles.s in the embrace. 

Pending these operations, the supply-trains were crossed at 
the bridge, covered by Wilson's division of cavalry and Fer- 
rero's division of colored troops. 

MOVEMENTS OF THE CAVALRY. 

The reader will remember that Sheridan had been sent on 
an pxpedition to destroy the Virginia Central Raih-oad, and, if 
possible, to join Hunter. In the first part of the programme 
he was successful ; but as he could hear nothing of Hunter's 
advance towards Chal•lottes^ille, he did not effect the second 
part, but returned from his expedition to White House, which 
he reached on the 10th of June, just as the enemy'.s cavalry 
were about to attack it. He drove them away, and relieved 
the garrison. Let us look back for a moment, and sec what 
his raid had accomplished. Gloving rapidly up the railroad 
towards Gordonsville, destroying as he advanced, he encoun- 
tered Wade Hampton's cavalry at TreviUian Station, on the 

2a 



354 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

11th of June. After a severe action, Hampton .Avas driven 
back, lea\4ng liis wounded and dead upon the field, and four 
hundred prisoners, with several hundred horses, in our hands. 
During the 12th of June, Sheridan broke up the raih'oad effeci>- 
uaUy' from Louisa Courthouse towards Gordonsville. As he 
approached the latter place, when about five miles fi-om it, he 
encountered Hampton, who had been re-enforced by the 
infantry, and who had intrenched his men. Here the contest 
was unequal. An attack made by our troops on the right was 
repulsed, but might have been renewed with success. Night 
closed the battle ; and Sheridan, making a new and vigorous 
attack, prepared, under cover of this, to withdraw. His ammu- 
nition having received di'afts upon it which he had not antici- 
pated, had given out. He was without forage, and in a coun- 
try where the grazing was miserable. He could hear nothing 
of Hunter (who, as we know, had taken the Lexington route 
to Lynchburg) ; and so he listened to the dictates, not of 
prudence, but of necessity, and returned. On his return he 
met orders directing him to proceed to White House, which 
he reached, as we have seen, at a critical moment. There he 
was to supply his command, men and horses ; and then break 
up the depot, and escort the garrison to the James Paver. 
All this he did in the handsomest manner. Throwing Gregg's 
division out on the right, to cover tlv: roads in the direction 
of White Oak Swamp, he marched down his right flank, fight- 
ing all the way. The severity of the action fell upon Gregg, 
who was furiously attacked by Hampton, but who, after con- 
siderable losses, brought his troops off to the James. Sheri- 
dan arrived at the James on the 25th of June, and crossing 
near Wilcox's wharf, at once joined the Army of the Potomac. 

NEW MOVEMENTS OF THE ARMY. 

Sunday, the 19th of June, dawned upon the weary and 
battle-worn soldiers as a most welcome day of rest— disturbed 
only by the occasional droj^piug fire of the advance pickets, 
and a slight artillery practice. The remainder of the Sixth 



SOUTH OF THE .I\>fKS. 355 

Corps crofssed tho Appomattox on that day, and joined its ad- 
vanced division ; as also did Forroro's colon-d division, of tho 
Ninth, which joined its c'or])s and was jjostcd in front. 

The ([uict, however, was disturbed at nip^lit, on the James 
River, and tho scene made brilhant witli thr hirid fires of 
battle, in more than one hostile ell'ort of the enemy. First 
among these was the movement of three rebel iron-clads, 
which came down from Drury's JJluft' as far as Dutch Gap ; 
but they accomplished nothing,'. Admiral Lee was on the alert, 
and they were soon cbiven back. Pickett's division, of Long- 
street's corps, favored by this naval diversion, attacked Gen- 
eral Butler in his works at Bermuda Hundred, without success ; 
and small detachments of the enemy, moving by the nortli bank 
of the James, succeeded in destroying the w^harves at Westover 
Landing and AVilcox's. As if to complete the programme, the 
rebels made an imsuccessful assault upon the centre of our 
lines in front of Petersburg. 

And here we may pause to make a recajutulation of the 
losses in the memorable decade from the 10th to tlie 'iOth of 
June. They were great. Killed, eighty-five officers, one 
thousand one lumdred and thirteen enlisted men ; wounded, 
three himdred and sixty-one officers, six thousand four hun- 
dred and ninety-two men ; missing, forty-six officers, one 
thousand five liundred and sixty-eight men ; — total, nine thou- 
sand six himdred and sixty-five. 

On Monday, the 20th of June, there was but little fighting, 
but Grant ordered preparations to be made for an important 
movement the next day — still in the direction of the enemy's 
right. The Ninth Corps was ordered to rtdieve the Second, 
and to occupy its intrenchments ; and the Eighteenth to re- 
liev(> the Sixth. The Second and Sixth corps were then 
moved rai)idly out, on the morning of Tuesday, '21st, across 
the Norfolk Railroad, and then across the Jerusalem plank- 
road, to which the Fifth Corps was already extended. The 
great object of the movement was to extend our lines to the 
Weldou Railroatl, one source of immediate and easy supply 
both to Petersburg and Richmond. 



35G GRANT AIsD HIS CAilPAIGNS. 

AGAINST THE 'WELDON EOAD, 

But the enemy were quite as eager to hold it as we to take 
it. The Second Corps moved rapidly, followed by the Sixth, 
in support, which was to come up on the left of the Second, 
and extend to the Weldon road, if possilile. The troops had, 
however, only reached Davis's farm, on the Jei*usalem road, 
between the two raih'oads, when they encountered the enemy 
in such force, that, after a brief but severe action, they were 
compelled to retire for a short distance. On Wednesday, the 
22d, this movement against the Weldon road was resumed by 
the Second and Sixth corps, the Sixth on the left ; but by 
some misunderstanding, the corps waiting for each other, the 
attack was too long delayed ; arid, when moving independently 
of each other, a gap was formed between the Sixth, which had 
not completed its line, and Barlow's di^'ision, of the Second. 
Into this that skilful general, A. P. Hill, threw a division of 
his corps, rolling up Barlow's division, which exposed Bir- 
ney's, now Mott's division : this, in turn, was now forced 
back fi'om its rifle-pits ; and Gibbon's division was in turn 
exposed, and so encountered as to lose four guns. But 
a new line was formed for the Second, which it was able to 
maintain. 

Not unsimilar was the fate of the Sixth Coips. Its left 
flank Avas sinuiltaneously attacked by another division of Hill's 
corps, and forced back. General Meade had now reached the 
field, and getting both corps well in hand, in the evening he 
ordered a general advance, by which the Si^th Corps was en- 
abled to recover its line ; and the Second a portion of its for- 
mer position ; aU of which was strongly intrenched. On 
Tliursday, the 23d, the attempt on the Weldon Railroad was 
again resumed. The Sixth Coi-jis endeavored, by marching 
southward, to reach the enemy's right flank. Its advance at 
length reached the railroad, and cut the telegraph wires ; but 
no sooner had three of our regiments been }>ut in ])()sition to 
hold this valuable point, than Anderson's division of Hill's 
corps struck their flank, captured many prisoners, drove the 



SOUTH OF THE JAMKS. 357 

remaindor back, and Ihcii made a fniious attack upon tluj 
main body. 

The country in which we were manicuvrinp; was of very dif- 
ficult topor!n*aphy, and filled with dense undorp^owtli. The en- 
emy were bettor acquainted with it than we. The WcKlon 
Railroad was of very preat, if not of vital, importance to him. 
He had thus far defended it persistently, turning his defensive 
into a skilful offensive in every battle ; and forcing us to be 
content, for the time, with establisliinj^ our linos half-way to 
the Weldon Railroad, until we could mass our forces in 
strenpjth sufficient to break his now p'eatly extended line. 

Before this could be done, however, the character of the 
weather, and unforeseen reqiiirements in another part of the 
field, nuule it necessary to contract our line by drawing in our 
left to the Jerusalem planki'oad, and refusing it by a crotchet 
to the rear. 

Pending these operations there were many reconnoi.ssances 
and ]>artial movements, to which our space will not permit us 
to alhule. In every part of the immediate theatre, every 
day had its battle, and every hour its special interest. Bri- 
gades and regiments were detached ; subordinate movements 
were projected and postponed ; Petersburg, Pocahontas, and 
the bridges of the Appomattox were vigorously shelled. 

DEEP BOTTOM. 

But the most important of the operations resulted in the 
occupation of Deep Bottom, on the night of the 20th and 
morning of the 21st. To this important point, only ten miles 
from Richmond, General Butler had sent an infantry brigade 
of the Tenth Coqis, under Brigadier-General Foster. A .short 
distance above this, at Howlett's, the enemy had strong bat- 
teries. Deep Bottom was at once connected with Bermuda 
Hundred by a jionton-bridge. At the same time, in order 
furtlier to develop these movements at the north, the re- 
mainder of the Eighteenth Coqis was withdrawn from the 
Army of the Potomac to Bermuda Humlred, and during 



358 GRANT AND fflS CAMPAIGNS. 

the greater part of the siege served with the Armj of the 
James. 

While these moTements were being made on the north and 
south of Petersburg — by way of a feint — the enemy advanced 
a strong skirmish line upon General Burnside's position in 
front of Petersburg, on Saturday, the 25th ; but he produced 
no impression ujDon our lines. 



WILSON S RAID. 

As an important portion of the operations against the "Weldon 
Railroad, we must not forget to record the cavalry movements 
designed to co-operate with the infantry advance. On the 
22d of June, General "Wilson, with his own cavalry division of 
the Army of the Potomac, and Kautz's division of the Army of 
the James, eight thousand men in all, marched rapidly south- 
ward, first to destroy the Weldon Eaih-oad, and then to make 
a circuit against the Southside and Danville raih-oads. The 
expedition struck the Weldon road at Keams' Station, where 
they destroyed the depot, and tore up a long stretch of road. 
Movmg, without delay, westward, they struck the Southside 
road at a point fifteen miles from Petersburg. Thence they 
went to Nottoway Station, destroying twenty-two miles of the 
track ; but encountering near this point the enemy's cavalry, 
under General W. F. Lee, Wilson defeated it, and drove it 
away. He then dispatched Kautz to Burksville Station, the 
junction of the Southside and Danville roads. This Kautz 
reached and destroyed on the evening of the 23d. and tore up 
the track as far as Meherrin Station, forming, at that point, a 
junction with Wilson on the 24th of June. The united forces 
then destroyed the Dan%ille road southward to Roanoke 
Bridge, a distance of twenty-five miles. There they found the 
enemy in such numbers, and so strongly posted, that he could 
not be dislodged. Wilson now started back on a ra]>id return, 
beset by .great perils, and not to be accomplished without 
great disasters. The rebels were gathering Uke wolves on his 



SOUTH OF TllH JAMES. 359 

track. On the 28th, lio eucouutorod h Ijirgo force on Stonj 
Crock, where the AVcklon road crosses it. ^\itcr u liiird but 
undecisive fij;ht, ho was forced to make a detour to Reams' 
Station, which he supposed to be still in our Ininds. But ho 
was sadly mistaken : the enemy had occupied it with a large 
force of infantry and cavalry, and, in his efforts to escape, 
Wilson lost his artillery and trains ; Kautz was s('])arated from 
him, and made his way in independently ; ami Wilson, after 
losing many prisoners, crossed the Nc>ttoway River, and came 
in, his horses and men in a pitiable condition. Besides the 
trains, and the guns and prisoners he had lost, the enemy had 
recaptiu-ed a thousand negroes, who had vainly hoped, by fol- 
lowing Wilson, to reach our lines, and gain their fi-cedom. 
But, notwithstanding these disasters, he had succeeded in 
severing the commimication with Richmond, by the railroads, 
for several weeks. General Grant says that " the damage 
done to the enemy in this expedition more than compensated 
for the losses we sustained." 

TEMPORARY REST. 

It was now manifest that, after nearly two months of con- 
tinuous fighting of the most desperate character, and now that 
we had reached a point where the siege of a stronghold must 
take the place of battles in the field, there mu.st be a brief 
period for rest and reorganization. Our losses had been be- 
tween sixty and seventy thousand, and although ct)rresponding 
re-enforcemouts had reached Grant, the losses sustained could 
not be repaired by the raw troops sent to the army. We 
had lost six hundred officers killed, more than two thousand 
wounded, and three hundred and fifty missing. These could 
not be immediately replaced. In many places, brigades were 
commanded by majors, and regiments by captains. Under 
these cu'cumstances, sl^ould new columns of attack be organ- 
ized, the men could not have the same confidence in their 
officers : the officers, and even the generals, would Ijecome 
confused in the varying pell-mell of the campaign. 



360 GRANT AND HIS CA^VIPAIGNS. 

Tlie disasters we had sustained were not without their 
effect. The Second Corps, which had deserved the appellation 
given by the French army to the Ninth demi-brigade at Ma- 
rengo — "The Incomparables " — had suffered somewhat in the 
movements against the Weldou road. The Sixth had met 
with similar disaster. AVe had not lost prestige, but we 
needed a brief rest to heal all these wounds. 

Added to these, a scorching summer sun and a pitiless 
drought had supervened : the sky was brass, and the earth 
was ashes. In many camps the water began to fail. Ar- 
rangements were made, however, for the comfort of the 
troops ; the work of filling up and re-officering went bravely 
on ; and a few days would have made all things ready for 
renewal of attacks, when circumstances in other portions of the 
theatre, at which we have already hinted, compelled a longer 
quiet in front of Petersburg, or rather less important and 
vigorous operations than had been anticipated. In order to 
come in logical order to these, we now proceed to consider the 
second set of collateral movements which had a bearing, bene- 
ficial or adverse, on Grant's principal operations. 



THE SIIEN AN DU AU VALLEY. 361 



CHAPTER XXXm. 

THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY. 

Honter's ixsTurcTioNs. — IIk beats the enkut. — W. E. Jonks killf.d. — Advako 
TO Lyxi iiuuKo. — Rkt»kat3 to the Kanawha. — What uk AcooiirLuuiiD. — !■ 

WHAT UK FAILED. — TuE UOUTK HE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN. 

When General Sigel was relieved, after his defeat in the 
Valley, General David Hunter had been placed in command. 
What was expected of him may be gathered from tlie follow- 
ing extracts fi-om letters of Grant to Halleck. On tlie 20th of 
May he wrote : " The enemy are evidently relying for sii))plies 
gi-eatly on such as arc brought over the branch road running 
through Staunton. On the whole, therefore, I think it would 
be better for General Hunt(^r to move in that direction ; reach 
Staunton and Gordonsvillc, if he does not meet too much oppo- 
sition. If he can hold in it a force equal to his own, he will be 
doing good service." 

Again, on the 25th, he writes Halleck : " If Hunter can po9- 
siblv gi't to Charloftcsville and Lynchburg, he should do so — 
living on the country. The railroads and canals should be 
destroyed beyond the possibility of repair for weeks. Com- 
pleting this, he could find his way back to his original base or, 
from about GordousviUe, join this army." 

General Hunter, well known as an energetic, l)ravc, und 
determined olhcer, but whoso generalshij) had never, tluis far, 
been severely tested, 'at once assumed a vigorous oflfen.sive. 
Moving up tlie Shenandoah, he beat up the enemy's {juarters 
on the oth of June, at Piedmont. He had pa.s.sed through 



362 GRANT AXD HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

Woodstock, Mount Jackson, and New Market, to Hamson- 
burg ; at that point lie divided Ins force into two columns, one 
of which moved by the Port Repubhc road, and the other on 
the direct road to Staunton. Thus he encountered the enemy 
on North Eiver, twelve miles from Staunton. The battle was 
fouglit by both columns, and continued for ten hours. While 
Hunter was pressing the enemy in fi'ont, Crook was approach- 
ing from the west. The result was not long doubtful. Hunter 
routed the enemy's forces, taking fifteen hundred prisoners, 
three cannon, and thi-ee hundred stand of arms, and killing 
the rebel commander, W. E. Jones, while we sustained a loss 
of only fifty men. 

ADVANCE TO LYNCHBUEG. 

On the 8th he occupied Staunton, where he was joined by 
Crook and AveriU. Crook had moved through Lewisburg and 
White Sulphur Springs, to Gaston Depot, on the Virginia and 
Central Kaikoad. This he destroyed. From that point he 
crossed the North Mountain, at Pound Gap, and thus pushed 
forward by the railroad to Staunton. 

The combined forces, now under -Hunter, marched, on the 
10th of June, towards Lynchburg, by way of Lexington. They 
reached Lexington on the 11th, where, on the 12th, they burnt 
the Mihtary Institute, and the house of Governor Letcher. 
By the IGth of June, Hunter had invested Lynchburg ; but 
that was the end of his success. 

Lee — his communication unobstnicted — poured re-enforce- 
ments into Lynchburg, amoiuifiug in numbers almost to a 
corps. Himter's ammunition had given out ; he was at a long 
distance from his base, in a hostile country ; and, after skir- 
mishing and manoeuvring on the 18th, prudence dictated 
that he shoidd retire in haste. This retreat was by the line of 
the railroad through Liberty, Bonsack, and Salem, to the Ka- 
nawha. A sad necessity, the result of mistaken strategy. 

He had accomphshed much ; had won a battle ; had de- 
stroyed important suppUes and manufactures ; and had com- 



TlIK SUKNAXDDAll VALLKY. 3G3 

pcllcd tlie onciny to hmiiovu ti Inrgo forco from Grant's fri)iit ; 
but his retreat, in the wron^ direction, towards the Kanawha, 
lost us the use of his troops for several weeks, whtni most 
needed to d»>fend the North, now about to Ix; a^'ain threatened 
by an invatling force of the enemy. Hud h(^ moved from 
Staunton, by the raih'oad, southeast to Chark)lU'>ivHl', instead 
of to Lexinf^'ton, and then from Charlottesville to Tjynchbur;^', 
as Grant's instructions contemplated, he would have continued 
to cover the Shenandoah Valley against all northern move- 
ments of the enemy, should he demonstrate in that direction ; 
otherwise he could have reached the James River Canal, de- 
stroyed it, and cut oti" any force sent for the relief of Lynch- 
burg, and been kept en ra/iport with Grant by Sheridan's 
movement upon Gordonsville. These are general criticisms. 
General Hunter had the right, by the terms of Grant's instruc- 
tions, to use his discretion, and doubtless thought that he was 
right in taking the other line. The military critic will find it 
diflicult to agi-ee with him. 



364 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

THE MINE AT PETEESBURG. 

Grant's divkksion. — TnE story of the mink. — Its position.— LiECTENAxr-CoLOina, 
Plkasantj. — Description. — Excavated under difficulties. — Meadk's order. — 
The fuse lighted.— Fails. — Gallant men relight it. — The delay. — Tub 

8T0RMEKS MOVE.— LeDLIE, WiLLCOX, AND PoTTtR. — FeBRERO. — TUE CRaTEB. — 

Tue Court of Inquiry. 

Not -without a fear that trouble was brewing in the Valley, 
Grant now sent the cavahy to cut the raih-oads north of Eieh- 
mond, fi'om' points near Richmond to the North Anna, thus 
endangering the safety of the enemy's army in the Valley, on 
the one hand ; and, on the other, if Lee should succeed in 
sending troops northward. Grant was ready to take advantage 
of this withdrawal of troops fi'om Petersburg, to explode a 
mine which had been prepared under an advanced work of 
the enemy, in front of the Ninth Corps, and under cover of 
the explosion to make a stunning assault upon the enemy's 
b'nes, and ui all probability capture the town. Further to in- 
duce them to weaken their works, that his assault might have 
a still better chance of success, Grant, holding the lines with 
the Fifth, Ninth, and Eighteenth corps, ordered the Second 
Corps, with two divisions of the cavahy, under Sheridan, to 
cross the James, and join that force of the Army of the James 
already intrenched at Deep Bottom. This was done on the 
night of June 26th. Advancmg from that point on the 27th, 
they drove the enemy back, at first in confusion, and captured 
four guns, with some prisoners. On the 28th, our lines were 



TIIF, MINK AT I'K rKRSBimG. ,^05 

extended from Deep ]>()tt()ni, across to the Newmarket and 
Lon^ liridgo road. I5iit in tliis now position the enemy at- 
tacked ; — after liard li^htin^' for several liours, obtaining,' but 
little success. Grant now prepared to execute the second 
part of his programme. 

Havin«^ caused Lee to detach a larfjo force from Petersburg 
to meet this force which he had crossed, and having ])araded 
the crossing by taking a large train of empty wagons, he now 
proposed to take back the expeditionary force secretly, to 
spring the mine, and attack Petersburg, before Lee could re- 
turn his troops for its defence. 

One division of the Second Corps was recrossed, immedi- 
ately after the fighting of the 28th. and at once reli(>vcd the 
Eighternth Corps in line, that the latter might be in readiness 
to attack. The other two divisions, with Sheridan's cavalry, 
recrossed on the night of the 20th, and came up to tlu»ir old 
quarters in front of Petersburg. The mine, which had been 
some days in readiness, was exploded on the morning of the 
30th. 

THE STORY OF THE AfTXE. 

As this mine was the oiTly one of any magnitude resorted to 
in this campaign, and as it has been the subject of not a little 
controversy, we propose to enter more into detail concerning 
it than the scope of our work will permit in descril)ing the 
other operations. This is the more pardonable, because the 
explosion of the mine presents more stirring romance and 
terrible pictures(jue than most battle-scenes. 

The position was chosen on account of a hollow just in rear 
of a deep cut in the City Point Railroad, in advance of which 
were General Burnside's lines. In this hollow, or ravine, such 
work could be carried on entirely out of the enemy's sight. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Pleasants, of the Forty-eighth 
Penn.sylvania Volunteers, a practical miner, whose regiment 
was recniited in the mining di.strict of Pennsylvania, tirst 
proposed it to General Potter, who submitted the proposition 



3(36 GRA^'T AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

to General Bumside. Tlie plan being warmly approved by 
General Bumside, Colonel Pleasants set to work vigorously 
with liis regiment, but found it very difficult to obtain proper 
instruments and implements. It is not too much to say that 
most of the higher commanders — we do not include Grant — 
regarded it without favor. It was considered a very doubtful 
experiment, and the author of it was comparatively unknown. 
The work was begun on the 2oth of June, and completed, 
except the charging with poAvder, on the 23d of July ; but in 
stating the obstacles he had to encounter. Colonel Pleasants 
declares that he would have done it in a third or foui'th of 
the time, with proper tools and instruments." On the 25th of 
July it was charged and entirely ready. He had not been 
able to procure a proper theodohte to lay it out ; but his chief 
difficulty had been the excavation of the gallery, and what to 
do with the earth excavated. He used cracker-boxes, re- 
enforced by hoops of ii'on taken fi'om old beef and pork bar- 
rels, in place of barrows ; and his men piled up brushwood to 
conceal the increasing mound of earth. Not being able to pro- 
cure mining picks, he filed off and straightened the common 
picks for that purpose. Th-j main gallery, which was horizon- 
tal, inclined for a short distance downward, at the entrance ; it 
extended five hundred and ten feet under our own work and 
the inters^ening space, ending dii'ectly under the parapet of a 
rebel redoubt. It was more than twenty feet below the 
general surface. A vertical ventilating shaft was dug a 
little beyond the entrance, and a fire kept kindled in it. 
The dimensions of this gallery were four and a half feet 
high, by four and a haK feet wide at the bottom. These 
depended for their security upon the tenacity of the earth, 
there being no frames. Two lateral galleries extended 
from the extremity of the mine under the rebel fort, the left 
one thirty-seven, and the right thirty-eight feet long. In these 
were placed the magazines, eight in all. It was originally de- 



* Report of Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War. Battle of Peters- 
burg. Page 3. 



TIIK MINK AT PETERSHURO. 357 

signed to cliarge it with six tons of powdor — twelve tliousand 
pounds; but tho sjvmo want of liborality, or livtlier of confi- 
dence, wliic-li had \)vvu disjilaycd in not i)roviiling material 
for tlie construction, cut this down to four tons : and this was 
tho charge, — about one thousand throe hundred and fifty 
pounds in each magazine. These charg(>s were strongly 
packi'd, or tamped, and the fuse set. The fuse was made of 
phosphonis, chlorate of potash, and other combustibles ; and 
running the length of the gallery, it communicated with the 
charged magazines. 

All being in readiness, orders were issued to explode the 
mine on the morning of July 30, at twenty minutes past three. 
Biu-nside was ordered to mass his coq")s on the night of the 
29th, organize his columns, take down a portion of the para- 
pet, clear away the abatis, if necessary, in his front, and be in 
readiness to move at the moment of the explosion. He was 
cautioned not to let his troops halt in tho crater, but that 
they should press forward and crown the crest of Cemetery 
Hill, on the ridge which commanded Petersburg. 

Warren was diawn up on his left ; and Ord, just relieved by 
Hancock's retui'ning troops, drawn up with the Eighteenth 
Corjis on his right. 

Meade's order, issued on the night of the 29th, gives an 
outline of the general movements to be made : 

" The following instructions are issued for tho guidance of all concerned : 

" 1. As soon as it is dark, Major-tieneral Burnside, commanding Ninth Coq*>, 
will withdraw his two brigades, under General White, occupying the intrench- 
ments Ix'tween the plank and Norfolk roads, and bring them to his front. Care 
will be taken not to interfere with the troops of the Eightwnth Corps, moving 
into their pifition in rear of tho Ninth Corps. General Burnside will form his 
troops for n.ssjiulting the enemy's works at daylight on the :;Otli, prepare liis 
parapets and abatis t<>r the passage of the columns, and have the pioneers 
equipped for work in oi>oning passages for artillerj*, destroying enemy's abatis, 
and the intrenching tools distributed for effecting lodgment, etc., etc. 

" 2. Major-General Warren, commanding Fifth Corps, will reduce the number 
of his troops holding the intrenchments of his front to the minimum, and oon 
ccntrate all his available force on his right, and hold them prepared to supjiort 
the assault of Majur-Gencral Burnside. Tho preparations in resiHKrt to pioneers, 



368 GRANT AND HIS CAifPAIGNS. 

intrencliing tools, etc., etc., enjoined upon the Ninth Corjw, will also be made 
by the Filth Corps. 

" 3. As soon as it is dark, Major-General Ord, commanding Eighteenth Corps, 
will relieve his troops in the trenches by General Mott's division of the Second 
Corps, and form his corps in rear of the Ninth Corps, and be prepared to sup- 
port the assault of Major-Qeneral Burnside. 

" 4. Every preparation will be made for moving forward the field artillery of 
each corps. 

" 0. At dark, Major-General Hancock, commanding Second Corps, will move 
from Deep Bottom to the rear of the intrenchments now held by the Eighteenth 
Corps, resume the command of Moti's division, and be prepared at daylight to 
follow up the assaulting and supporting columns, or for such other operations 
as may be found necessary. 

" 6, Major-Gcneral Sheridan, commanding cavalry corps, will proceed at dark 
from the vicinity of Deep Bottom to Lee's mill, and at daylight will move with 
his whole corps, including Wilson's division, against the enemy's troops de^ 
fending Petersburg on their right, by the roads leading to that town from the 
southward and westward. 

"7. Major Duane, acting chief-engineer, will have the ponton-trains parked 
at convenient points in the rear, prepared to move. He will see that supplies 
of sandbags, gabions, facines, etc., etc., are in depot near the lines, ready for use. 

" He will detail engineer officers for each corps. 

" 8. At half-past three {SI) in the morning of the 30th, Major-General Burn- 
side will spring his mine, and his assaulting columns will imnudiately move 
rapidly upon the breach, seize the crest in the rear, and effect a lodgment there. 
He will be followed by Major-General Ord, who will support him on the right, 
directing his movement to the crest indicated, and by Major-General Warren, 
who will support him on the left. 

" Upon the explosion of the mine, the artillery of all kinds in battery will 
open upon those points of the enemy's works whose fire covers the ground over 
which our columns must move, care being taken to avoid impeding the prog- 
ress of our troops. Special instructions respecting the direction of fire will be 
issued through the chief of artillery. 

" 9. Corps commanders will report to the commanding general when their 
preparations are complete, and will advise him of every step in the progress of 
the operation, and of every thing important that occurs. 

" 10. Promptitude, rapidity of execution, and cordial co-operation, are essen- 
tial to success : and the commanding general is confident that tliis indication 
of his expectations will insure the hearty efforts of the commanders and troops. 

"11. Headquarters, during the operations, will be at the headquarters of the 
Ninth Corps. 

"By command of Major-Qenerai. Meade." 

The rebels were entirely ignorant of the locality of the 
mine, and the intention to explode it at that time. The 



TIIK MINK AT PKTERSBURQ. 3^9 

Petersburg and Ilichmond papers IkkI ludulgod in some sense- 
less pleasantry about our mining projects; but in that early 
morning, before daylight, the waking were as unsuspecting aa 
those ^vho slei)t. 

Exactly at the given hour the fuse was fired, and went liisH- 
ing into " the bowels of the earth." But the mine did not ex- 
plode. Pleasants knew in a moment the difhculty. He had 
been obliged to use a sphced fuse, instead of a whole one, or, 
indeed, two or three fuses, and it had stopped burning at the 
sphce. Two brave men of the regiment, who believed in the 
mine, and who had toiled at it night and day under Pleasants, 
volunteered for the dangerous service to go in and relight it. 
These were Lieutenant Jacob Douty and Sergeant Harry 
Reese. They go along the gallery one hundred feet, before 
they reach the point where the fire stopped. Again, at ten 
minutes before five, the insidious flame travels to its destined 
goal. Generals CJrant and Meade are at the front. " It lacks 
a minute," s^iid Pleasants. " Not a second," said Douty, 
" for there she goes !" A quiver, which becomes an earth- 
quake-tremor — and then, with a tremendous burst, a conical 
mountain rises in the air, streaked and seamed with lightning 
flashes. The vast mass is momentarily poised ; and as it thus 
hangs in air, discloses timber, planking, earth, bodies and 
limbs of men, and even one or two of the sixteen guns in the 
work. It is kno\\Ti that the work was occupied by portions 
of the Seventeenth, Eighteenth, and Twenty-second South 
Carolina regiments, imder Colonel Fleming. Except the 
guard, the garrison was asleep. One instant of awakening, 
and then the crashing death. And then from every gun, 
great and small, that can be brought to bear, we pour in such 
thimder-storms of artillery as have rarely been witnessed or 
heard in America. 

The mine, in spite of all croaking and unbelief, is a com- 
plete, a splendid success. The rebels are completely para- 
lyzed ; their frightened troops give way to the right and left 
of the crater ; their artillery is silent. A huge gateway is 
opened for us up to Cemetery Ridge, and beyond, into Peters- 

24 



370 GRA.NT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

burg. But the attack must be instantaneous. What delays 
it? Where is the storming column? Too late. Five min- 
utes pass, eight, ten, before Ledlie's diNdsion, which had been 
selected by lot to lead the charge, has moved. When it does, 
led by the gallant General Bartlett, instead of complying with 
the order, it halts in the crater, and absolutely remains there 
an hour. 

General Burnside had at first contemplated sending 
forward his colored troops as stormers ; but this being 
objected to by General Meade, and the objection being sus- 
tained by General Grant, his division commanders drew lots 
for the perilous prominence, and the lot fell upon General 
Ledlie. 

The storming-party was then thus organized : Ledlie's divi- 
sion of white troops (Ninth Coips) was to lead the assault, 
charge through the crater, and seize the rebel works on the 
crest of Cemetery Hill. The other di\isions (Willcox and 
Potter) were then to move forward, and form on the right 
and left. Ferrero's (colored) division of the same corj^s, was 
to follow in the track of Ledlie. Tlie Eighteenth CoriDS was 
then to support the grand assault ; and if more troops were 
wanted, Ayres, of the Fifth, was to be moved in. 

As soon as General Meade hears this — that our advance 
will not move beyond the crater — he orders Burnside, at forty 
miuutes after five, to push forward to the crest all his own 
troops, and to caU on General Ord to move forward his 
troops of the Eighteenth Corps at once. Potter and WlUcox 
have advanced to the right and left of Ledlie. Fen-ero, with 
the colored di%'ision, was to have followed in rear of Ledlie, 
but the commander, who had remained in rear of the main 
line of the Ninth Corps works, when ordered to move, said 
there was no room until the troops already in his front should 
be moved out of the way. We are inclined to agi'ee with 
him. His troops, however, after some further delay, were 
moved into the crater, where, with the rest, they moved for- 
ward, to be badly cut up, and then huddled, only iucreasing 
the confusion, and eventually the slaughter. Meade, on ac- 



ITTE MWE AT I'l'TTERSBlTRa. 37I 

count of tlio continuod delay in movinf^ out of the crater, di- 
rected Ord to piisli Ills corps forward; l)ut that olli(rer vcrj 
properly declared that this was impracticable, there being 
no opcnin;^' exc('])t that made by the crater, which was now 
crowded with men. 



THE CRATER. 

The scene in the crater baffles all attempts at description. 
In this iire^ilar chasm, two hundred feet long, sixty wide, 
and thirty deep, were clustered, among the wTccks of tho ex- 
plosion, the dead, and the buried alive, thousands of our men, 
with no competent commanders; to lead them. Many were 
soon in a state of wild delirium ; hali-buried rebels were cry- 
ing out, " Yanks, for God's sake, take me out ; 111 do as much 
for you some time." Many were crying for water. Tho con- 
fusion became worse confounded. It was a honible chaos 
come again. 

Potter's division, and some of the colored troops, get out of 
the crater, two hundi-ed yards in advance ; but the rebels have 
aroused fi"om their stupor. The gims of Cemetery Ridge have 
a direct fire upon the crater. Batteries to the right and left, 
pour in a cross enfilading fire. Some say the rebels are infu- 
riated at tho sight of the colored troops. The place becomes 
a veritable hell on earth. Literally, "cannon to right of 
them," to the left, in fi'ont ; and soon the intervening space is 
swept. To remain in the crater is certain death ; to advance 
is impossible ; to retreat is death ; and it seems for the 
same reason impossible to succor them by sending more 
troops. The ofticers have no longer any control. The car- 
nage is frightful. 

Burnside is now directed, at nine o'clock, to withdraw his 
troops at his discretion : this he does at about two in the 
afternoon. Every thing had fiuled. The mine, a great suc- 
cess under diflicidties, had resulted in next to nothing. W» 
are fortunate in having the fullest account of it, as an investi- 
gation was ordered ; and the Court of Inquiry, composed of 



372 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

Hancock, Ayres, and Miles, published its finding and opin- 
ion. From these we make a few quotations. The court 
says : 

The causes of failure are — 

1. The injudicious formation of the troops in going forward, the movement 
being mainly by flank instead of extended front. General Meade's order indi- 
cated that columns of assault should be employed to take Cemetery HiU, and 
that proper passages should be prepared for those columns. It is the opinion 
of the court that there were no proper columns of assault. The troops should 
have been formed in the open ground in front of the point of attack, parallel to 
the line of the enemy's works. The evidence shows that one or more columns 
might have passed over at and to the left of the crater, without any previous 
preparation of tlu- ground. 

2. The halting of the troops in the crater instead of going forward to the 
crest, when there was no fire of any consequence from the enemy. 

3. No proper employment of engineer oflScers and working parties, and of 
materials and tools for their use, in the Ninth Corps. 

4. That some parts of the assaulting columns were not properly led. 

5. The want of a competent common head at the scene of the assault, to di- 
rect aSairs as occurrences should demand. 

Had not failure ensued from the above causes, and the cr.est been gained, 
the success might have been jeoparded by the failure to have prepared in sea- 
son proper and adequate debouches through the Ninth Corps' lines for troops, 
aind especially for field artillery, as ordered by Major-General Meade. 

The reasons why the attack ought to have been successful, are — 

1. The evident surprise of the enemy at the time of the explosion of the 
mine, and for some time after. 

2. Tlie comparatively small force in the enemy's works. 

3. The ineffective fire of the enemy's artillery and musketry, there being 
scarcely any for about thirty minutes after the explosion, and our artillery be- 
ing just the reverse as to time and power. 

4. The fact that some of our troops were able to get two hundred yards be- 
yond the crater, towards the crest, but could not remain there or proceed fur- 
ther for want of supports, or because they were not properly formed or led. 

To these clear, candid, and impartial words, we need add 
nothing ; nor is it necessary for us to introduce the blame at- 
tached by the court to certain officers in this connection. It 
is on record for those who deske to read it. 

General Grant was exceedingly disappointed at the result, 
as indeed ho had a rif^ht to be. He had marched and coun- 



Till, MINK AT PFTERSniJRO. 373 

tcrmarclu'd the Second Corps ;iii(l Shcridiin's eiividry, iii 
order to coufuso the enemy, and nW U)v nothing. Our losses, 
which \vere very ^reat, nundiered as follows : Kilhnl, forty- 
seven oflicers, imd three hundred and seventy-two enlisted 
men ; wounded, one hundred and twenty-four othcors, on© 
thousand five hundred and fifty-five men ; missin;,;, ninety-one 
officers, one thousand ei^dit hundred and nineteen men ; — to- 
tal, foui' thousand and thiec. 



874 GRAJJT AND II IS CAMPAIGNS. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

THE EEBEL ADY.V^^CE ON WASHINGTON. 

Eakly moves down the Vallev. — Grant sends up the Sixth and Nineteenth. 
— Wallace moves. — Is defeated, but detains Early. — Destruction. — Wright 
IN command. — Early retreats. — The Shenandoah Valley. — Grant visits 
Hunter. — Sheridan — Let loose. — Winchester. 

We must now go back, in point of time, to tlie beginning of 
July, and turn to the consideration of an event ■^liieli jiromised 
to give Grant great additional trouble, and wliieli caused him, 
as we have before indicated, to detach some of his troops, and 
send them northward for the defence of Washington towards 
the line of the Potomac. 

When Hunter retreated from L^Tichburg into Western Yir- 
ginia, the ever-memorable Valley of the Shenandoah was left 
open to the enemy, for raids across our fi'ontier, into the loyal 
States of Maryland and Pennsylvania. The rebel authorities 
were not slow to avail themselves of the opportunity thus 
afibrded. A considerable force was moved down the Valley, 
under General Jubal Early, who had resumed the command 
during the disability of Ewell, with the intention of invading 
the North, opening the way for larger bodies, and perhaps so 
working upon the fears of our people, and the authorities at 
Washington, as to force Grant to abandon the siege of Peters- 
burg. Early's force was his own corps, with a portion of that 
of Breckinridge, and detachments, making in all about twenty- 
live thousand men. 




HOBTUEIIN VW 



376 GRAJST AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

Grant was disappointed at this new obstacle to liLs pluns ; 
but his ready resources did not fail him. 

He ordered Hunter, who was now in Western Virginia, to 
move as rapidly as possible, by river and raih'oad, to HarjDer's 
Ferry. But Hunter's delays were great. The water was low 
in the river, and the raih'oad was broken in several places. 
To meet this emergency, troops must be had at once ; there- 
fore, early in July, the Sixth Corps was taken fi'om its lines in 
front of Petersburg, and sent to cover Washington. The 
Nineteenth Corps, under General W. H. Emory, which had 
been ordered from the Gulf as soon as Grant had heard of the 
failure of the Red lliver expedition, had just arrived in Hamp- 
ton Roads : without disembarking, it was also pushed after 
the Sixth. Rickett's division of the Sixth was sent to Balti- 
more. Wright, with the remaiuder, subsequently went to 
Washington. 

In a mihtary point of view, the enemy deserves great credit 
for the bold stroke he now made. Thundering down the Val- 
ley, on the 3d of July he was at Martinsburg. Sigel, who had 
a small command there, at once retreated across the Potomac 
to Shepardstown. Weber, in command at Harper's Ferry, 
likewise evacuated the town, occupying the Maryland Heights 
opposite. The enem/, being now unobstructed, crossed the 
river at Willianisport and Point of Rocks, and on the Gth of 
July was at Hagerstown ; fi'om which he pushed a strong 
column towards Frederick, and other detachments to destroy 
the railroad and canal, and to plunder the surrounding towns. 
Grant's foresight had been admmible, and the re-enforcements 
had been sent not a moment too soon. 

WALLACE MOVES. 

General Lewis Wallace, in command of the Department of 
Annapolis, with his headquarters at Baltimore, taking with 
him his ow]i CDumiand, and Rickett's division of tlie Sixth — 
eight thousjiiul in all — promptly moved out, first to Frederick, 
and then bnik p(>sili.)n on the iMonocacy, near the railroad 



THE HKBKL ADVANCE ON WASIIINin'ON. 377 

crossing', whore, on tlio Slli i>f July, ho fou;,'lit th«; udvancinr; 
enemy. The contest was unequal. Tlio enemy were sixteen 
thousand strong. Except the Sixth Coqis, "Wallace's, com- 
mand consisted of one hundred days' men, heavy artillery 
regiments, invalids, and volunteers ; and althou<,'h he was de- 
feated l>y a flank movement of Early upon his right, he do- 
serves great credit for his prom]>t advance, his brave recep- 
tion of tlic impetuous reljol attack, and, in a word, for doing 
every thing in his power, with the inadequate^ means at his 
command. By this course of conduct he enij)loyed and de- 
tained tlu^ enemy, while Wright could reach "Washington with 
the remainder of the Sixth Corps and the advance of the 
Nineteenth. 

Those troops entered "\^'asllington at the very nick of time ; 
for the enemy, inspirited by his success on the Monocacy, at 
once moved upon the Federal capital ; while "Wallace fell back 
to defend Baltimore. On the 10th of July, Early's cavalry 
was at Rockville. On the 12th, the commander of the troops 
in Washington, General Augur, threw out a reconnoissance in 
force from Fort Stevens, and encountered the enemy, losing 
two hundred and eighty killed and wounded ; but skirmishing 
was continued during the day, and the enemy retired that 
night, recrossing the Potomac at Portersville and Edwards' 
Ferry. 

Let every man have his just tribute. To give the arch- 
enemy his due, the rebels certainly gave us a good scare, and 
accomplished humiliating wonders in this bric^f jieriod. The 
rebel cavalry destroyed a long stretch of the Northern Central 
Railroad, and buraed Gunpowder Bridge ; and, reaching a 
thoroughfare never dreamed to be insecure, captured a train 
on the Philadelphia and Baltimore road. 

At a quarter before twelve o'clock, on the night of the 12th, 
Grant telegraphed to Wa.shington to have General Wright put 
in command of all the troops in the field there ; and he urged 
that our men should now be put out of the trenches, and push 
Earlv vigorously at every step of his retreat. In accordance 
with these directions, Wright began the pui-suit, and overtook 



378 GRANT AND mS CAilPAIGNS. 

the rear-guard of Early at Snicker's Ferry, on the Shenandoah, 
where a sharp battle ensued, in which the enemy was worsted. 
Averill, who had promptly moved up the Yalley with his cav- 
alry, caught a portion of Early's force at "Winchester, and de- 
feated them, capturing four guns and five hundred prisoners. 

THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY. 

The very difficult duty now devolved upon Grant of direct- 
ing the movements of troops fi-om City Point, — difficult, be- 
cause not only were they out of his sight, but he had conflict- 
ing reports of the details of the operations. Messages and 
orders crossed each other in such a manner as to confuse, not 
only the heutenant-general, but also General Wright and the 
authorities at "Washington. 

His first impulse, when he found Early retreating, was to 
bring back the Sixth and Nineteenth corps to Petersburg, and 
make a new assault on Lee before Early could re-enforce him ; 
but orders to that efi'ect were postponed, and at length coun- 
termanded, as soon as he found that Early did not design to 
return to Richmond, but meant to continue his ojaerations in 
the "Valley. Grant then dii-ected General Hunter, who had 
now arrived w^ith his troops from "^"estem Virginia, to main- 
tain a defensive in the "S^alley, and thus deter the rebels fi'om 
again advancing on "Washington. 

Again concentrating his forces, on the 24th Early attacked 
Crook and Averill, and flanking them, di-ove their forces 
through "Winchester and across the Potomac. He was now 
ready for a forward movement. On the 25th he again came 
proudly forward, as if to cross the river ; and to meet him, 
Grant ordered the Sixth Corps to Harper's Ferry. 

Connected with this movement of Earl}-, was a rebel raid 
into Pennsylvania by a small cavalry force — only three or four 
hundred — under McCausland, which perpetrated the diaboh- 
cal outrage of burning the undefended town of Chambersburg, 
because the people would not, or could not, pay half a milhon 
of dollars ransom. He then retreated, with our cavalry after 



Tin: nVAWA. ADVANCE ON WASHINGTON. 379 

him, to C'uiii]»»'rl:iii(l, wlu-n" licin^ met luul dcfoivtod l;y Gen- 
eral Kelly, his force dispersetl intu \\'tst< i n \'ir;^'iiii;i. 

But tho nijiin body of Eiirly \vjis hy no nu'uus so easily 
moved. They were reaping the splendid harvests of tho 
Valley, and sending large supplies to Richmond. We have 
already referred to the difficulty of communicating orders at 
this most perplexmg period. From the time of Early's tirst 
raid, the telegraph wires were down between Washington and 
City Point. To send messages and receive answers required 
from twenty-four to thirty-six hours. New develo})mentfi 
and constantly changing cii'cumstances gave rise to contra- 
dictions, emban-assments, and misconceptions. It was en- 
dent to Grant that he must have one competent head there, 
and it was due to this that he projected the Middle Military 
Division, to which we shall presently refer ; and on the 2d of 
August he ordered General Sheridan to Washington, with a 
view of assigning him to the command of this nt-w ilivisjon, 
which was subsequently done. 

Indeed our position in that quarter was extremely pre- 
carious, and might well give the lieutenant-general the deep- 
est concern. No time could be lost in iiTesolution. The 
enemy was concentrated in the neighborhood of Winchester, 
while the bulk of our forces were still on the Monocacy, at tho 
crossing of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. 

Thus Western Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania were 
exposed to invasion, should tho rebels bo bold enough to 
attempt it ; and yet Grant hesitated, without an examination 
of the field himself, to order a forward movement, for fear of 
exposing Washington. 

GILVNT VISITS HUNTER. 

In order, therefore, to act with full intelligence, ho left City 
Point on the 4th of August, and went in person to the import- 
ant points in this theatre of operations. On the 5th he visited 
General Hunter, and gave liim written instructions to concen- 
trate all his forces near Harpers Ferry, using tho railroad to 



380 GRAJST AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

its utmost, in order to save time. He further instnicted Hun- 
ter, if the enemy should move north of the Potomac, to move 
north promptly and attack him ; but if the enemy should 
move southward, sending only small raiding parties to the 
north, then Hunter was to push southward after him, without 
a moment's delay, using the large force of cavalry which he . 
had to enable liim to do so. He also directed Hunter to sweep 
the Valley clean of provisions, forage, and stock — to destroy 
what he could not use, but to protect the buildings as far as 
possible. As if to add another word of caution to the already 
expUcit instructions, Grant told him to keep the enemy always 
in sight. 

In accordance with these instructions, Hunter's troops were 
put in motion at once, and the advance reached Halltown, on 
the railroad to Winchester, that night. 



THE MIDDLE IMTT.TTARY DIVISION. 

In Grant's interview with Hunter, this general, without at all 
asking it, had expressed his willingness to be relieved fi'om the 
command; which offered Grant the opportunity of carrying out 
the purpose, already indicated, of forming the Middle Military 
Division, and giving Sheridan the temporary command over 
all the generals and troops in the departments of AVestern 
Virginia, Washington, and the Susquehanna — up to this time 
separate and independent commands. The cavalry divisions 
of Torbert and Wilson were at once ordered up from the 
Army of the Potomac to Harper's Ferry ; and Sheridan, who 
was waiting at Washington, was ordered, on the night of the 
5th, to come up by the morning train to Harper's Ferry. 

This Sheridan did ; relieved Hunter at once ; and received, 
in addition to the ^nitten instructions to Hunter, special in- 
structions from Grant, who then, better satisfied with the con- 
dition of things, iiinnodiately returned to City Point, to super- 
vise the operations around Petersburg and lliohmond. Tor- 
bert's di\dsion of cavaby arrived at Harper's Ferry on the 11th 





" u 




Till; KKBEL ADVANCE ON WASHINGTON. 381 

of Au^ist, uud Torbcrt became chief of cavalry to Sheridan'B 
army. 

SHERIDAN. 

With his usual sagacity, Grant had mado an ajlinirablo 
choice of a commander. A young man— then only thirty- 
three years of age — Slu^ridan had already become the most 
distinguishfd cavah-y olhcer in the .service. Ho was a gradu- 
ate of West Point, and devoted to the profession of arms. To 
great and untiring energy, dashing bravc^ry, and enthusiasm 
in lighting, he added the natural gift of bfuig able to eontrol, 
in an electric manner, the affections and wills of his men ; and 
he was now to show that he had strategic intuitions of the 
first order, and tactical Lntelhgencc of the most clear and 
rapid kind. To no better man in the whole army could the 
difficult task have been assigned of utilizing all the troops, 
and gi-asi)ing the strategy of this extensive and important 
division. 

He at once brought order out of the chaos. To confront 
the enemy, who had fallen back as if to lure him forward, and 
who now oeeupied the west bank of Opequan Creek, covering 
Winchester, Sheridan posted his forces in front of Berry- 
ville. They consisted of the army which Himter had brought 
up from Western Vu-ginia ; the Nineteenth Coi-j:)s, under 
Emory ; and the Sixth Corps, under Wright ; with the com- 
mands of Crook and Averill. Torbert had command of the 
cavalry. 

Movements were made back and forward, and there were 
numerous cavalry engagements. When Sherid;in feared that 
Early was going to decamp, he fell back, t« hold him in his 
front. 

Acting with proper caution, Grant did not yet feel author- 
ized to permit him to bring on a general engagement, fraring 
that, if we were defeated, Maryland and Pennsylvania might 
be open to the rebel incursion. But on the other hand, it was 
of great inijiortance to us to secure the use of the I'altiraore 
and Ohio Railroad and of the Chesapeake i^ud Ohio Canal ; 



382 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

and if successful in a battle, we should be no more troubled 
by the threats or fears of a rebel invasion at the North. 

Sheridan was very anxious to attack ; and so Grant, after 
weighing the chances well, determined to ri.sk it. But fearing 
to give orders to that effect, without himself knowing the 
, ground and the positions, and without an exact knowledge of 
Sheridan's \-iews, he again left City Point, on the 15th of Sep- 
tember, and had an interview with Sheridan at Charlestown, 
not far from Harper's Ferry. 

SHERIDAN LET LOOSE. 

Never was commander-in-chief more fully satisfied with the 
knowledge and power of a subordinate, than was Grant with 
the statements of Sheridan. Two words, he said, contained 
aU the orders it was necessary for him to give, and these 
were, ''Go in T It was hke the "laisscz allcr' of the 
heralds to the imj)atient knights at the old tournaments. 
Grant asked him if he could be ready to move on Tuesday 
morning. Sheridan said, " Yes, and before ; on Monday 
morning, before daylight." General Grant adds, in his re- 
port : " He was off jiromptly to time ; and I may here add, 
that I have never since deemed it necessary to visit General 
Sheridan before giving him orders." High praise, tersely 
expressed, and richly deserved. With this permission to 
move — to change a skilful defensive (which had, indeed, 
enabled him to perfect his organizations) into one of the most 
brilUant offensives recorded in any war, and upon which the 
historian would fain linger, forgetful of the pro])or relation of 
the parts of his narrative — with this permission begins a mag- 
nificent series of victories. 

WINCHESTER. 

On the morning of the 19th, he attacks Early at the crossing 
of the Opoquan, fights him all day until five o'clock, with severe 
losses on both sides, but beats him thoroughly ; carries his 
entire positions, from the Opequan to Winchester, and diives 



THE UK13EL ADVANCE ON \V ASlllN(iT(tN. J83 

him tlin)u;^'li Wiiu'hostor, takinpj sovoral thousftud imsonons 
ami five ^'uns. Early is al>s()hit(>ly stuprlicd at the slux'k. 
Tliis is not the fif^htinj; he has Iteeu accustomed to, nor will 
ho ovi>r 1)0. (Jroat orodit is imdouhtodly duo to Sheridan's 
subordinates ; but Slioriilan is liio life of tho ontire battle, and 
in giving tfie enemy this tasto of his quality, he sets an ex- 
ani]ile to his own tnjops of what ho expects of them in tho 
future. 

Earlv had lost tliroo thousand fiv(> humlred killed and 
wounded, live thousand prisoners, five guns, and fifteen buttlo- 
Hags. Three of his generals were killed and four wounded. 
Among tho former was reported General Fitzhugli Lee. Not 
only was Early driven through Winchester, but he was sent 
" whirling up tho valley ," so vigorously pursued, that he did 
not make a stand until he reached Fisher's Hill, thirty miles 
below AVinchester. 

Hero again, by a rajjid and overwhelming assault, pursuing 
his favorite tactics of columns attacking in front — the Sixth 
in the centre and the Nineteenth on the left, and a Hanking 
reserve of cavalry on each flank in successicm — Sheridan dis- 
lodged and routed him on tho 20th, pushing him down 
through Harrisonburg and Staunton, and scattering portions 
of his force through the gaps of the Blue Ptidge. 

Sheridan then returned leisurely to Strasbui'g, and posted 
his victorious forces, for a brief season of rest, behind Cedar 
Creek. The operation had been brilliant in the exti'ome. 
From early morning on tho 19th of September to the 25th, 
Earlv liad lost his positions, his prestige, and ten thousand 
men, with a large number of guns. 

Torbirt was now dispatched to Staimton on a destructive 
raid, during which he tore up seven miles of tho Virginia 
Central Kailroad, and destroyed the iron bridge across the 
Shenandoah. All tho grain which he could not us(^ was like- 
wise destroyed, to keep it fi"om tho enemy, should he return 
on our track, which, it was certain, ho would endeavor to do. 

We can only brii-fly advert to the other movements in the 
Vallov. On tho 8th of October, General Rosser, a " new 



384 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

cavalry general," came up to trj his band on a portion of 
Sheridan's force, but was soon "settled" by an attack on his 
front and flanks, in which he lost caissons, ambulances, sup- 
plies, and wagons, and was pursued up the Valley " on the 
jump." 

CEDAR CREEK. 
t 

The rebel troops in the Valley, thus roughly handled, lost 
confidence in Early, and Longstreet was sent with large re- 
enforcements to command and reassure them. Asrain his 
cavalry suffered, but, nothing daunted, the rebel general now 
undertook one of the most daring operations of the war, and 
one that narrowly escaped being a success almost as brilhant 
as the recent victories of Sheridan. With his force well in 
hand, he rapidly crossed the mountains which separate the 
forks of tlie river ; forded the North Fork, came upon our left 
flank, which was not properly protected ; crept along the 
front of Crook's Corps, thus exposing himseK to immense 
danger. But, favored by darkness and fog, he came into 
position unobserved, and just before dawn of the 19th of 
October, his men were lying in battle order not six hundred 
yards distant from our unsuspecting lines. Sheridan was 
absent, and the enemy knew it. The rebels also believed that 
the Sixth Corps had been withdra-v\-n from the Valley and sent 
to Grant. Those real advantages gave them power ; the sup- 
posed advantages strengthened their morale. When fairly in 
position, they sprang up with an unearthly yell, poured 
upon our sleeping troops, seized batteries, which they turned 
upon us, enfilading our lines, and roUed back our left. The 
confusion spread — the troops began to retreat — in parts it 
was a rout. 

SHERIDAN RIDES TOST FROM WINCHESTER. 

Sheridan was at Winchester, twenty miles away, when 
the distant and faintly audible booming of cannon struck 
his ear. He mounted in hot haste, and riding like a 




SHERIDAN'S OPERA TIONB IN TIU. 
25 



-ni '. A.MM'AII VAIJ^T. 



386 QRAIsTr AND HIS CA^IPAIGNS. 

courier, lie arrived upon the field at ten o'clock, his horse 
covered with foam, and, hke the Twin Brethren at the Lake 
Regillus, his presence staved the ebbing tide, and turned it 
into a destructive flood. Moving hke hghtning among the 
retreating troops, he swung his hat in the air, shouting at the 
top of his voice, " Face tlie other way, boys ! we are going 
back !" Pushing forward past the stragglers, who at once 
began to rally, he reached the main body, repeating his fiery 
words. " Boys," he added, " if I had been here, this never 
should have happened ; we are going back." An-anging and 
strengthening his hues while the enemy had, most of them, 
stopped for a time to plunder our camps, he was just in readi- 
ness to move forward, when the rebels came in for a new 
and overwhelming assault. Resisting this manfully, he caught 
its surge, and hm'led it back ; assumed the offensive ; 
attacked again in two columns ; employed his cavalry in vif^or- 
ous charges on both flanks ; succeeded, with Custer's divi- 
sion, in turning their left and rolling it up, and again routed 
them. Thus he snatched -victory out of the jaws of defeat. 
And all this — no one can gainsay it — was due to the brilliant 
genius and personal elan of Sheridan himself. The slaughter 
of the enemy was great. We captured almost every thing 
they had, including the guns and camps which we had lost 
in the morning. The rout of the enemy was again complete. 
They flew to Staunton on wmgs of fear, while Sheridan pur- 
sued as far as Mount Jackson. No one was more gratified 
than Grant, who, as soon as he heard the news, telegraphed 
to the Secretary these words : 

" I lind a salute of one hundred guns fired from earli of the armies liere, in 
honor of Sheridan's last victory. Turning what bid fair to be a disaster into a 
glorious victory, stamps She)idan, wJiat I have always thought him, one of the 
ablest of generals. 

" U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-Qcneral.'* 

This was, as it might well be, the last attempt of the enemy 
to invade the North through the Shenandoah Valley, which 
was now caUed, for them, the Valley of Humiliation. 



TITE REHKL ADVANCE ON WASIIINOTON. 38T 

General McC'lollan having resif^ncd Iiis coimnission, to take 
ofTcct on tln> Stli of Novcnibor, it w;is ordered by tho Presi- 
dent : 

•' Tliat for jiorsonal pallantry, military skill, ntwl just confidoncr in tho conr- 
tigv niul putrititisra of his troopH. displnywl by Philip II. Shi-ridan on tho 19th 
of OctohiT nt CVtiur Hun, whon-hy, uniliT the bh-ssinpof Providence, hi» routed 
army was reor;,'ani/.e«l, a great national disaster averted, and a brilliant victorj 
acliiived over the relx-la for the third time in pitched lafle within thirtj 
days. Philip II Sheridan is apjM)int<-d major-general in the United States Armj, 
to rank as such from the bth day of November, 18G4." 

Such a prestige as that now established by Sheridan en- 
abled Grant to take the Sixth Corps away, and it was ordered 
to tho vicinity of Petersburg. 

The historian would fain linger upon such brilliant records 
as these, but it is necessary that we shoulxl now return to take 
a brief survey of what was being done in the Ai-my of th» 
Potomac. 



A. 


Flirt MoQIIvery. 


n. 


Kiirl StrnilinaD. 


c. 


Fort lliisciill. 


D. 


F.Tt Morton. 


K. 


F..rt Meiklo. 


K. 


Fort Ilice. 


0. 


Fort SinlL'wick, or Fort riclL 


n. 


Fort D:ivi». 


I. 


K.irt Pre>cotL 



Naves of Unmon Fobt8 arocxd PETEusncno. (See Map.) 

L. Fort llownrl. 

M. Fort Wn.lswortli. 

N. Fort I)ii!>liaiie. 

O. Fort nav;s..n. 

P. Fort MiM:ilion. 

Q. Fort Slevi'iison. 

P.. Fort B'Rixlel. 

S. Fort Patrick Kelley. 

T. Fort Urosa. 
K. Fort AIoNniiilcT Hayes. 

Forts ox the I'koloxoation of the Lixes west of the Wkldon Kailcoad. 

A. Fort Krene. O. Fort Wlieiton. 

B. Fort rriiuton. H. Fort Sniiip>on. 

C. Fort Coiialicy. I. Fori Cuinniings. 

D. Fort Fisher. K. Fort Kmory. 

E. F.rt Wflch. L. Fort Siel>«rt. 

F. Fori Greg^ M. Fort Clarke. 

F0KT8 Pbotectiko City Point. 
O. Fort AJ.botL 8. Fort l^n\» O. Morris. 

r. Fort Cralc. T. Fort Morri.-mi. 

Q. FortOrsvea. U. Fort Ooul.l. 

1:. Fort McKc«n. V. Fort Porter. 

Nauks or ctKTAiH Rebel Foirrs Anocxn I'tTEnsBCBO. 
a. Colqnifs Su'lent d. Fort Mahone. 

6. Pttfrain'* Hattrry. the fort blown up at *. Fort New Orloani. 

tho mine ex|>lusiuD. / Fort Lee, 

& Ee«ve*' Salii-nL 

X. Fort UarrUoD (on Chaplo'i Fann, north of Jamc« ClrerV 



388 GUANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 



CHAPTER XXXYL 

AROUND PETERSBURG. 

Ckdar Ckeek. — Sheridan rides post from Winchester. — To the Weldox road. 
— Tub cattle raid. — Movement on both flanks. — The westwaisd movement. 

— BuTLKR MOVES. — The ArMY OF THE PoTOMAO IN MOTION. — TuE DuTCU GaT 

Canal. — Gregg at Stoney Creek. — Comparative rest. 

The gi-eater part of July and the early days of August were 
spent in a proper adjustment of the defensive works, and in 
strengthening them from the Appomattox to the Jerusalem 
plankroad. The important points were crowned with redoubts, 
and heavy siege-batteries were erected in the most advan- 
tageous positions. 

In the early part of August, the lieutenant-general, believ- 
ing that Lee had detached three divisions from Petersburg to 
re-enforce the rebel army in the Shenandoah Yalley, deter- 
mined to make a strong diversion north of the James in favor 
of another movement against the Weldon road. 

Let us look at these co-operative movements in their order. 
To this end the Second Corps was placed on transports and 
ostentatiously moved down the river, as if proceeding to For- 
tress Monroe ; but, under cover of night, the vessels turned 
and steamed up the river, and the expeditionary force landed 
at Deep Bottom on the 14th of August. There it was 
joined by a cavalry division under Gregg, and a force from. 
Butler's army under Birney, which marched from Bermuda 
Hundred and crossed the river on the ponton-bridge at Deep 
Bottom. 




Richmond .-• Petersburg'^ 

Itt I'ol W II Pa I F»o./rf/» ■///•/•/• 
KiitfintrHftr Onn4 mmt lln I'tun/mii.i i 



AROUND rFn'KRSUUIK} 389 

Tlio general order of buttle, Kupi^rintonded by General 
Grunt, who visited the field, was us follows : The cuvuli-y well 
thro^^-n out on the Charles City roud ; the Second Coqis on 
the right, and thf troops of the Army of thi' James on the left, 
while the gunboats moved up to shell the rebel works as our 
troojis advaneed. The whole force moved out silently from 
Strawberry Plains towards the enemy. On the 1 1th, Hancock 
man(ru>Ted to the right, connecting with the cavalry, and an 
attack was made upon the enemy's position, in which Bimey'a 
troops were quite successful, captming the enemy's rifle 
trenches, and wresting from him six guns, four colors, and 
several hundred prisoners. In this engagement, the Tenth 
Connecticut and Fourteenth Massachusetts regiments greatly 
distinguished themselves. The attack of Barlow's division, 
made at the same time, was not quite so successful. Again 
Hancock manoeuvres to find weak points in which to attack, 
and on the lOtli another assault is made, Imt w ithout import- 
ant results. Gregg makes a fearless advance on the right ; 
drives the enemy's cavalry before him to White's tavern j 
but is in turn driven back by strong re-enforcements of the 
enemy, to Deep Run, where he makes a stand. In these 
actions the rebels lost heavily, and among their killed were 
Generals Chambless and Gherardie. The 17th, 18th, and 
19th were spent by the troops in skirmishing. On the night 
of the 18th a strong attack of the enemy was handsomely 
repulsed : but the main purpose of the movement north of the 
James is already accomph.shed ; and besides, the enemy is 
too strong to be broken there. Grant has learned that Lee 
has not detached three divisions to the Shenandoah, but only 
one, that of Kershaw. This movement north of the James 
has retained the others, which were under marching orders 
when it began. On the 20th, Hancock, who has already sent 
back one division, that of Mott, is ordered to take the re- 
mainder of his cor]is back to Petersburg, to be in readiness 
for the movement by the left. Our losses north of the Jame» 
were about five thousand. 



390 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIQNa 



TO THE ■WELDON ROAD. 



Having attracted the enemy's attention to the north side 
of the James Eiver, and given him some concern as to the 
defences of Richmond in that quarter, Grant now put War- 
ren in motion, on the 18th of August, with four days' 
rations, to strike the Weldon road at Six-mile Station, near 
Globe Tavern. Warren reached this point and began to 
destroy the track. On the 19th his position was thus fully 
three miles from the left of our intrenched line on the 
Jerusalem road. While he was extending his pickets to 
connect, the enemy, ever ready and skilful to take advan- 
tage of gaps — those open joints in the harness of armies 
— thrust in heavy masses in the form of a Yu-ginia brigade, 
under Watkins, and a Mississippi brigade, under Davis, 
(the two forming Mahone's division of Hill's corps), struck 
his right flank heavily, held by Crawford, and turned upon 
his right rear. This attack w^as of the nature of a surprise, 
but Warren was equal to the emergency, and although he 
lost several hundred prisoners at the first, he changed front 
to meet the flanking dash, moved the divisions of Willcox and 
White (late LedKe's), of the Ninth Corps, to strengthen his 
right, and sustained a violent attack of Heth's division of 
Hill's corps on his left, which was at C:\it partially successful 
In this action on the left we lost many prisoners, and among 
them, General William Hays. The result of this engage- 
ment i^resents a decided balance in our favor. For although 
we had lost heavily, we had gained permanent possession of 
the Weldon road, and had intrenched upon it, Avhile notwith- 
standing the valor of the enemy, the prisoners he boasted, 
and the skilful attacks which at first broke our hne and sent 
it back in confusion, he had lost the raUi'oad forever, the 
question, j)iir excellence, for which he was fighting. 

On the 20th our troops on the left were allowed by the 
rebels to rest and strengthen the new position, Avhich should 
have been at once assaulted, had Hill hoped to succeed. After 
thus giving us twenty-four houi's of invaluable time, Hill at- 



AROUND PKTEKSBUKQ. 391 

tucked, oil llic 21st, to disloilgo W.ureii, striking boldly our 
loft wiii^' and c'ontro Kimultaneously, but without succcBa 
Thoir attack hiiving fjiilcd, Wim'cn tlicn luadi' a gallant njWHte, 
in which \\o capturi'd four Hags ami four hundred prisonera. 
In tliis action (Joncral Cutler was wounded, and the bravo 
CoU)nel Dushane of the Maryland brigade was killfld. 

The advanced position of Warren on the left now led to a 
gradual extension of the other corps westward. The Second, 
under Hancock, was moved in the vicinity of the Weldon 
road on the ii2d ; and on the 'i.'Ub ^liles' division and (iregg'a 
cavalry were once more dispatched to the fatal Keams' Sta- 
tion, to destroy it. The enemy contesting the advance of this 
force, Hancock goes down to its assistance with Gibbon's di- 
vision, and driving the rebel troops away, Hancock's command 
proceed with the destruction of the road on the 24th. But 
the enemy is not disposed to yield the station. On the 2r)th 
he comes down in stronger force, and obliges Hancock to con- 
centrate and light a battle thei«. The attack was made with 
great fury, and after several handsome repulses, he succeeds 
in breaking a portion of our line, and capturing five gims. 

Upon the receipt of intelligence that Hancock was pressed, 
Meade sent down Willcox's division of the Ninth Corps to his 
assistance, but it did not arrive until the action was over. At 
nightfall Hancock withdrew his force, the enemy moving away 
at the same time. During this brief period our losses had 
been great. From the 18th to the 21st inclusive, they were 
not less than five thousand men, and in the battle at Reams' 
on the 25th, they numbered two thousand five hundred. 

We are not prej)arcd to concede that the lo.sses at Reams' 
Station were compensated for by the results ; indeed it .seems 
to have been proven that we did not need that position, for 
after many severe actions it was eventually abandoned to the 
rebels. But the great movement began on the 18th of August 
resulted in our p«'rmanent occupancy of the Weldon Railroad. 
The enemy fell back to within three miles of Petersburg, and 
we wert! at once enabhnl to follow, and intrench on the rail- 
road, within three and a half miles of the city, with our skir- 



392 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

mishers advantageously thrown out to a point near the 
Vauglian road. Our intrenchments were laid out on this new 
line connecting with the former left on the Jerusalem road. 

For a brief period the army again had rest, and an oppor- 
tunity to strengthen their positions. By the 13th of Septem- 
ber a railroad was completed, uniting the City Point and 
Petersburg road with the Weldon road ; thus insuring supplies 
of all kinds, without concern as to the weather, which had 
often made wagoning difficult in the extreme. 

THE CATTLE RAID. 

Just at this time occurred a stratagem of the enemy, known 
as the famous Cattle Raid, whi?h indicated at once the diffi- 
culty of attaining perfect security in rear of such an extended 
postion, and also the danger of neglecting proper precautions, 
because the security seems great. Three regiments of rebel 
cavalry came swiftly do^Ti through our Hues to Coggins' 
Point, surprised the small force guarding the grazing-ground, 
and succeeded in dri^'ing off two thousand five hundred head 
of cattle collected there, and helping the rebels to a few 
rations of fresh beef, with the hearty laugh of " those who 
win," at our expense. 

MOVEMENT ON BOTH FLANKS. 

Wliile constantly keeping an eye on the Southside RaUroad, 
General Grant, satisfied that on so extended a line as the 
rebels were compelled to hold, in order to confront his 
own, there must be weak sjiots, and that these points were 
mostly to be found on or near their fianks, determined to 
make a demonstration on the north side of the James River, 
with Butler's troops, in co-operation with one to be made 
by Meade against the enemy's right, — a mode of tactics which 
would require the movement of rebel troops to the greatest 
distances, and which would be ready to punish his concentra- 
tion on one flank by an overwhelming attack on the other. 



AROTTND PETERSBURO 393 

Tlio movomont north of tln^ James was under General Onl. 
The Ti'ntli Coqis, under Birney, and Ord's (Ei^hlcenth) rorps, 
crossed on the ponton-bridfj^c to l)ce]> Bottom, on tlie night of 
the 2Sth of September, and m<nint,' forward tlie next morning 
against Fort Morris, and the long line of intrenchments just 
below Chapin's farm, they successfully assaulted these. The 
Eiglit(>entli Corjis was on the left, Birn<>y in the centre, while 
the cavalry extended to the right. Sixteen guns were captured 
in this engagement. Ord took Fort Morris. But, in pursuing 
this success, that general was wounded, and General Godfrey 
Weitzel succeeded to the command. General Buruham was 
killed. In front of the intrenchments mentioned was a strong 
work called Fort Gilmer, which resisted the attack of the 
Eighteenth Corps, although some of the stormcrs reached the 
ditch ; but Birney took New Market Heights, while the cav- 
alry, under Kautz, taking advantage of the battle, penetrated 
by the road to the right to the toll-gate, only two or three 
miles from Richmond. Here the multiple lines of the enemy's 
works checked their advance, and Kautz was obliged to re- 
tire. But this movement of our right had resulted in a val- 
uable success. We had gained a strong position, fi'om which 
the enemy could not dislodge us. 

THE WESTWARD MOTEMEMT. 

Let us now turn to the left, from which the counter-move- 
ment was to be made. On the 30th of September, General 
Grant had ordered the demonstration to bo made, for the 
alternative purpose of seeing whether the enemy had weakened 
his lines at that point — of which he would at once take ad- 
vantage — and also to prevent such a movement of troops as 
would cnish the force operating north of the James. 

The expeditionary force in this direction was composed of 
two divisions of the Fifth Corps, under "NYarren, and two of 
the Ninth, xmder Parke. They moved from our left towards 
Poplar Spring Church and Peeble's farm, which points the 
enemy had strongly intnuiched, to cover our apj)ri)aches upon 
the Southsido Railroad. Gregg's cavalry accompanied this 



394 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

force, and moved further towards the enemy's right and rear. 
Griffin's division of the Fifth Corps came upon the enemy's 
intrcnchments on Peeble's farm, and gallantly stormed the 
rifle-pits and a small redoubt, taking one gun and about one 
hundred prisoners. Ap-es' division of the same corps moved 
up the Squirrel Level road, and also canied a small work in 
its front. Parke, moving past them on the left, towards the 
Boydton plankroad, was met by the enemy in force, and com- 
pelled to fall back for a short distance ; but Griffin moved up 
to his support, and the enemy was thus checked. Gregg's 
advance on this day di-ove the enemy before it. As soon as 
word had reached Meade's headquarters that Parke was 
pressed, Mott's division of the Second Corps was pushed for- 
ward to his assistance. This was on the 1st of October, but be- 
fore these re-enforcements arrived the conflict was at an end. 

By this time Gregg had reached the Duncan road, where he 
had a sharp encounter wdth the enemy, and succeeded in driv- 
ing him back Asdth loss. Among the rebel killed was General 
Dunnovan. The success thus far assured now led to a com- 
bined advance along the line, which found the enemy strongly 
intrenched. Having gained a new point of value in our en- 
circling movement to the left, it was thought best to intrench 
in the enemy's front, and join this new acquisition to our 
former left flank. Our losses, in these actions, were about 
two thousand five hundi-ed in killed, wounded, and prisoners. 

Thus our aj^joroaches were slow, but sure, and the enemy 
found himself daily more contracted in his lines, with his com- 
munications constantly threatened. On the 7th of October 
the enemy made a new movement against the cavalry of 
Kautz, north of the James, to turn our left flank, which re- 
sulted in disaster. He lost nine guns, and a considerable 
number of prisoners ; but when he fell back to our infantry 
positions, all efi'orts of the enemy to take them were cutii-oly 
unsuccessful. 

Pending these movements, there was much picket and 
artillery firing all along the line of the tronclies, in front of 
Petersbui-g, especially in the neighborhood of the salient 



AROUND PKrERSnURG. 305 

called " tlio soro point," ami " Fort Hell," which w:is tho 
soubriquet of Fort Sedgwick, covering tho Jerusalem plank- 
road. 

BUTLER MOVTvS. 

On tht' i:it]i of Oc'tolnT, General Butler again made a strong 
roconnoissance, resulting in an assault designed to <lrivo the 
onomy away from some new works which the rebels were 
constructing, but they were found too strong, and the partial 
attack was repulsed. , On the 15th, Mr. Stanton, the Secre- 
tary of "War, visited the armies operating agabist Richmond 
and Petersburg, accompanied by the chiefs of the Quarter- 
master and Commissary departments, and the Burgeon-Gen- 
eral, to iind out the condition of the troops, aaid to provide ail 
that should be needed. 



THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC IN MOTION. 

It was now late in the autumn, and approaching tho winter, 
in which movements on a large scale in that quarter must be 
suspended ; but before such a period of comparative inaction 
should set in, Grant determined to make one solid eflFort to 
find the enemy's right flank. To this end, orders Avere issued 
for the movement of the entire Army of the Potomac, leaving 
only the necessary guards of the trenches and redoubts. 
The men were provided with four days' rations for the infan- 
try, and three for the cavalry, and the army left its intrench - 
ments, secretly and suddenly, on the morning of Thursday, 
the 27th of Octol)er. The new objective was tiu' enemy's line 
of works covering Hatcher's Run, and the White Oak road. 

A glance at the i«'nrn'n which was to be the jirincipal field 
of operations from this time until the last days of the struggle, 
will show that the enemy, after being forced to abandon the 
Weldon road, placed such dependence upon the Boydton 
plankroad that he covered this by works extending from tho 
right of his Petersburg defences ; and tho crossing of this road 



396 GRANT AND HIS CAifPAIGNS. 

at Hatcher's Run became a point in dispute. Should he lose 
this road, the"tMiite Oak road became an important hue ; and 
should that be flanked, as it eventually was at Five Forks, the 
Southside Railroad must be strongly fortified, or it would fall 
into our possession. Hancock, with the Second Corps, moved 
forward, crossed Hatcher's Run, on the Vaughan road, and 
reached the Boydton road, near Burgess's mills, on the run, 
thus being only about six miles distant from the Southside 
road. Two divisions of the Fifth, with some cavalry, moving 
in advance on our left, forced the passage of the run at Arm- 
strong's Mills, and then marched up the run towards the 
raih-oad, to join Hancock. But the country was almost a terra 
incognita; the only map we could obtain was an old one of Din- 
widdle County ; the thickets were dense, and the roads wind- 
ing, and therefore this junction was not made. The efforts of 
the Ninth Corps were repelled by the strongly posted enemy, 
and after due consideration. Grant, finding that we could not 
strike his flank, and that in an attack in front the enemy 
fought at great advantage, issued orders to return. Before 
these could be carried out, however, the enemy, with char- 
acteristic adroitness, penetrated into the space between 
the Fifth and Second corps, and struck a heavy blow upon 
the flanks of both. It should be observed that the command- 
er of neither corps considered the orders he had received as 
contemplating a junction of the corjDS, and that the penetration 
of the enemy was due to the nature of the ground, and not to 
the fault of the corps commanders. With commendable 
judgment and rapidity, however, Hancock faced his coi-ps to 
meet the attack, and, after a sanguinary conflict, he di'ove the 
enemy away, and then complied with the orders, and with- 
di'ew. The Ai-my of the Potomac returned to its intrench- 
ments, ha^^Jlg gained little besides the practical knowledge of 
the ground, which was to be fought over many times before 
the end should be. 

In accordance with a system established on so many prece- 
dents, while thii^ movement was going on, Butler made another 
demonstration on the north, in two columns, which attacked 



AROtTND PETKRSBDRQ. 397 

the enemy on the Williamsburg road and on tho York Eiver 
Railroad. In tho first ho was unsuocossful, and in tho second 
ho took a fort, which, however, was afterwards abandoned. 



THE DUTCH G-M* CANAL. 

We must licro mention a project or experiment made by 
General I>utlt'r, to cnt off a lonj; double stretch of tho James 
River. Thv ponijisula known as Farrar's Island, inclosed in 
this loop of the river, is, at the nearest points of the river, 
less than half a mile wide. On the 10th of Au^aist work was 
begun on a deep cut at this point, which it was hoped would 
open a passage for oiu* iron-clads. It was prosecuted with 
vigor, negi-oes being employed as laborers ; and afterwards, 
rebel prisoners were set to digging by Butler, under fire of 
their batteries, in retaliation for rebel outrages. The project 
was never popular ; and among the men it was proposed, in 
tho way of pleasantry, that courts-martial should sentence 
hardened offenders' to two years' hard labor on the Dutch Gap 
Canal. On tho 25th of November the steam dredging-ma- 
chine was .sunk by the enemy's shot. On the 1st of January 
the bulkhead was blown out, but the earth came cniolly back 
into the canal ; and on the 2d, the enemy's enfilading batteries 
ploughed through it fi'om end to end. Although small vessels 
eventually passed through it, it was useless during the war, 
but may become of value hereafter for purposes of peaceful 
commerce. 

The cpiiet at Petersburg was now only broken by slight re- 
connoissances and artillery firing. 

GREGG AT STONEY CIIEEK. 

On tlie 4th of December, Gregg marched with liis cavalrj 
to the crossing of the Weldon Railroad at Stoney Creek. It 
had been reported that the enemy was constructing from tliis 
point a branch railroad to connect with the Southside road. 
Here he found a part of the grailing made ; but after a slight 



398 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

resistance, lie succeeded in burning the buildings and supplies 
of material, and set out on his return. He was fiercely fol- 
lowed by Hampton, who harassed his rear. Gregg's dispo- 
sitions were skilful. His second brigade brought up the rear, 
and held the enemy in check ; and when hard jiressed, the 
first brigade reUeved it, the second marching past it. The 
first was in tui'n reheved by the thii'd ; and thus he retm-ned 
to the army. 

COMPARATIVE REST. 

From this time, the operations of the armies of the Potomac 
and the James were principally of a defensive character. 
The lines were strengthened, and busy preparations were 
made for the spring campaign, designed and destined to be 
the final one. On the 28th of November, General Hancock 
was commissioned to recruit, as rapidly as possible, a new 
corps, to be called the First Corps ; and General Humphreys, 
who had been General Meade's chief of staff, was promoted to 
the command of the Second, which he exercised Avith signal 
ability during the remainder of the war. 

Notwithstanding the vague threats of the rebel journals, 
that Lee was contemplating some grand movement, General 
Grant now permitted many officers to go on furlough for 
Christmas holidays. Nor were the festivities of the season 
forgotten in camp. Luxuries were sent down to the soldiers 
by loving fi'iends and admiring countrymen at the North ; and 
that Christmas in camp will long be remembered with pleasure 
by the soldiers. 

It is proper now to take advantage of this pause, to place 
on record what had been done by the Army of the Potomac, 
after a campaign imparalleled in the annals of war, ancient or 
modern. The want of proper documents alone prevents our 
giving similar statements with regard to the Army oj the 
James, — a lack wliich we sincerely regret. 



AROUND PETERSnima. 



399 



Ibbuiar Statement of Camaltut in t/i« Army of t/u Potunir, from May S, ISGt, to 

Xi>90mb4r 1, 1864. 



\Vil.l,TIU-S 

Spoir.xvhjuiiu . . . 

North Aiiiiii 

Colli lliirliur 

rctir-liur^f 

Ditto 

n.tto 

Trciiclios 

Wol.lon KK 

Koiiin>' Statiuii. . 
roi;l)lc'8 runii.. . 

Trenelics 

Buydiou IM'kr'tl. 



Miiv .5 to 12 , 

M.iv 12 to 21 , 

Mi.y 21 to 01 

.June I to 1") 

Juno 10 to 2i> 

June 20 to Jul> -SO. 

July 80 

AUL'. 1 to l!< 

Au}?. 18 to 21 

Aujr. 2-' 

Sept. 30 to Oft. 1 . . 
A lit'. 18 to Oct. 8C. 
Oct. 27 to 23 



nm^— Knil.led 
Offlcrr.. j,,„ 



2)!9 

114 
12 

144 
85 
29 
47 
10 
21 

.24 
12 
18 
16 



8,0 1'J 

2,u;{2 

13? 

1,501 

1,11 a 

67« 

872 

128 

I'Jl 

y;} 

12'J 
2S4 
140 






1,017 

2.'i!l 

67 

421 

8.il 

120 

124 

.'•S 

10' I 

62 

60 

91 

6>> 



l'^,2«l 
7,i!«7 
l,ii'i-1 
8,ii2l 
rt.4!i2 
2.874 
1,VV> 

62« 
1,0,1.5 

484 

78H 
1,214 

!I8I 



7l>6 9,776 2,790 M.'.Ol 77.5 2.3.i'S3 88,337 



177 

31 

3 

51 

40 

lOi 

9t 

1 

104 

9.5 

56 

4 

8 



ti,6'i7 

248 

a24 

2.8.-..-. 

I.V.8 

2,li>V 

1,81-.. 

45 

•1,"72 

1.074 

l,7oO 

^ll■l 

619 



29.410 

I0,.38l 

1.607 

13,1.53 

9,065 

5,316 

4.f»03 

868 

4,543 

2,483 

2.685 

2,417 

1.90U 



Statement *?Knciny the Number of 04ors captured from the Enemy, during Ihf. Operation* 
of tJu Army of the fotomac^from May 4, 1S61, to Noocmber 1, \i,'>\. 

Number of Colors captured G7 

CapturtMi by Cavalry Corps ;{ 

Captured by Si'cond Corps 40 

Cai)turi'd by Fifth Corps 10 

Captund by Sixth Corps ;} 

Captured by Ninth Corps 11 

• 07 

Note. — The foregoing statement is made up of the reports of captured 
colors that had been received at this time. 

Two divisions of the Cavalry Corps and the Sixth Corps having been trans- 
ferred from the Army of the Potomac, it is not certainly known tlial all the 
colors captured by these troops, prior to their transfer, arc here reported. 



StaUmtnt thtwing the Number nf Prisoners captured by the Army of the Ihtomae, during 
the Oi>eration$frvm May 4, 1864, to November 1, 1S04. 

From May 1 to May 12 7,073 

From .May 12 to July IJl G,")00 

From July 31 to August 31 ."iT.-j 

From August 31 to September 30 73 

From September uO to October 31 1.138 

Total 15,373 

Note. — Tlie tabular statements here made are taken from luipublishod nu 
terial, kindly furnishod mo by d staff-officer of Qeneral Qrant. 



iOO 



GRANT AND HIS CASfPAIGNS. 



SUxterrunt s/mwiny the Kumher of Guns captured from the Enemy^ dUo the Kumb^r of 
Guns lost, duriruj ike Operattons of the Army of the I'Uoinar.^Jrom May 4, 1S64, to 
Kotember 1, 186-1. Thirty-two guns were captured, and ttctnty fice 'j-uns lost, a* 
follows : 







Number. 






Date. 


Corps. 






Where. 




Capl'd. 


Lost. 




May 5 


fiftli. 


- 


2 


Wilderness. 


Winslow'ri liattery "D,"' First 
N. Y. Artillery. 


" 10 


Second. 


— 


1 


South of the Po 
River. 


Brown's battery " B," First 
K. 1. Light Artillery. 


" 11 


Cnvnlry. 


2 


— 


Yellow Tavern. 




'* 12 


Second. 


20 


— 


.'^pottsylvania. 




June 17 


Ninth. 


4 





Tetersburg. 




" 22 


Second. 


— 


4 


Ditto. 


MeKnight's Twelfth N. T. 
bittterv. 


" 29 


Cavalry. 


— 


8 


Eeam.s' Station. 


Maymi.iier'.^ "K," Fir.<t U. S.. 
4 ; Fiizliugh's, " C" and 






















" £," 4. • 


July 28 


Second. 


4 


— 


Jones' Neck. 




" 28 


Cavalry. 


— 


1 


Deep Bottom. 


Denison's, " A," Second U. S. 


Aug. 15 


Secoml. 


1 


— 






" 25 


Second. 


— 


9 


Koam.s' Station. 


Sleeper's Tenth Mass. batt., 4; 
McKuighi'b, Twelfth N. Y.,1, 


Sept. 30 


Fifth. 


1 
32 


25 


Poplar Gr. Ch. 





While thus we leave the armies around the rebel capital in 
winter-quarters, and Grant in his little wooden hut at City 
Point, it becomes necessary to cast a glance around the hori- 
zon, and note the work which was done, and which was to be 
done, elsewhere. In the biography of any other general, this 
would be only an incidental mention ; but it must be remem- 
bered, that altliough Grant had his headquarters witli the 
Army of the Potomac, he had the entire control of all the 
armies in the field, and his plans were formed with reference 
to the combined movements of all the armies. 



OTHER PABTS OF THE GKKAl TIIKATUE 401 



CHAPTER XXXVn. 

OTHER PARTS OF THE GREAT THEATRE. 

Sukhua:*. — IIooD MOVES INTO Tenxessee. — General TnosiAS. — General Hood. — 
MoaiL*. — Pbicb DfVADKS M188OCR1. — To Wythevilxe and Saltvii-le. 

SHERMAN. 

It is not within our scope to give a detailed acconnt of the 
doings of this ilhistrious general. They constitute a special 
theme, and are elsewhere written. We shaU only present the 
outLiuc. 

Moving from Chattanooga, with the three armies of the 
Cumberland, the Tennessee, and the Ohio (commanded, re- 
spectively, by Generals Thomas, McPherson, and Sehofield), 
he marched upon Johnston at Dalton ; and when that com- 
mander fell back upon the strong position of Buzzard's Roost, 
Sherman, mo^'ing forward with Thomas and Sehofield in front, 
turned the position by sending McPherson to Snake Gap. 
Johnston fell back to Resaca ; and after a desperate battle 
there, retreated to Cass^'ille, and across the Etowah River. 
After a rest, Sherman moved to Dallas, and thus turned the 
Alatoona Pass. After several fierce battles near New Hope 
Chiirch, in the n»'ighborhood of Dallas, Johnston retreated to 
Kenesaw, Pine Hill, and Lost mountains, where he strongly 
intrenched hiniBclf. Once more Sherman moved by the right 
flank ; and Johnston crossed the Chattahoochee, eventually 

26 



4Q2 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

faUin<T back upon Atlanta. Here, dissatisfied with the tactics 
of Johnston, the rebel authorities reheved him, and placed 
Hood in command. At this point, a furious battle ensued, in 
which General McPherson was killed, and his armj tempo- 
rarily commanded by General Logan, until Howard was 
assigned to the command. 

But Hood's fierceness met no better fate than Johnston's 
reti-eating tactics. Sherman makes a flank movement by the 
right, on the Montgomery and Macon Railroad, and Hood has 
no alternative but to retire from Atlanta, which was at once 
occupied by General Slocum, with the Twentieth Corps, on 
the 2d of September. Sherman spends some time in refitting 
at Atlanta, and preparing for a new move, while the enemy, 
seemingly now pui-poseless, moves round to the north to 
cut the communications, which Sherman was preparing to 
abandon. 

Amazed at Hood's folly in leaving the south utterly de- 
fenceless, Sherman did not waste much time in following and 
driving his army before him ; but, making his arrangements 
to leave Thomas to protect Tennessee and take Hood in 
charge, he sets out on that magnificent march southward, 
which has no parallel in our history. Detaching the Fourth 
Corps, under Stanley, and the Twenty-thii'd, under Schofield, 
to Thomas, he begins his movement or. Savannah on the 14th 
of November, threatening Augusta and Macon as he ad- 
vances, and finding no enemy to oppose him in that " grand 
gallop through Georgia." Never had the people so lost their 
confidence in the Confederate government as now. Their ry 
of agony was fierce and bitter. Passing around the City of 
Savaimah, he stormed Fort McAllister, while Beaui-egard 
and Hardee were only too glad to escape with the garrison 
of the city. 

Leaving the thread of Sherman's movements for future 
consideration, let us now look at Hood. 



OTTIER IWRTS OF TTIF, ORKAT THEATRE. 403 

HOOD MOVES INTO TENNESSEE. 

Tlie Confoderato coranmiulor, a gallant soldier but an tm- 
ekilful general, breaks iip his encampments at Tuscu abia 
and Florence, and marches northward upon a road which 
loads him to swift destnietion. Of this movement Gei.cral 
Grant savs, with simple, but severe criticism : " Hood, inj tead 
of following Sherman, continued his move northward, \\ hich 
seemed to me to bo leading to his certain doom. At all 
events, had I had the power to command both arrai< s, I 
should not have changed the orders imder wliicli he sec ned 
t-o be acting." Our observing corps, under Schofield, wiiich 
had been watching his advance, now retire rapidly be 'ore 
hint Hood comes on so fast that it becomes necessar\ t » 
light a battle ut Franklin, in order to get our trains aci jss 
the Big Hai^ieth River and into Nashville. The battle of 
Franklin was skilfully fought by Schofield on the 30th of 
November, our lines being drawn up in semi-c-ircular foi in, 
with both flanks resting on the river. All Hood's attac '<b 
were repidsed, and Schofield did not fall back untU after le 
had accomplished his purpose, and the trains were secme. 
The rebel loss was six thousand ; ours, two thousand thri e 
hundred. He had six general ofiicers killed, six wounded, 
and one captured. Of this battle, General Grant speaks a? 
follows : " This was the first serious opposition the enemy 
met with, and, I am satisfied, was the fatal blow to all his 
expectations. During the night. General Schofield fell back 
towards Nashville ; this left the field to the enemy — not lost 
by battle, but voluntarily abandoned, so that General 
Thomas's whole force might be brought together." 

Hood now advanced u]>on Nashville, and drew his lines 
around the city, but was no sooner in position than Thomas 
attacked, broke his lines, and, in a battle which la.sted two 
days, defeated and routed him, capturing nearly all his artil- 
lery, and a large number of prisoners, and driving him south- 
ward, a disorganized mass of stragglers rather than an army. 
He had come into Tennessee with fifty thousand men, impa- 



404' GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

tienl for action and certain of \'ictory. He left it with less 
than twenty-five thousand, never again to have any value or 
stati s as an army in the field. 



GENERAL THOMAS. 

G( neral Grant had felt greatly concerned at this bold ad- 
vanc i of Hood, and feared that Thomas was postponing too 
late the auspicious moment to check and hurl it back. His 
vieu i at this time, and the great satisfaction which he experi- 
ence 1 at the result, we will present in his own words : 

" before the battle of NashviUe, 1 jjrew very impatient over, as it appeared 
i/'Xa , the unnecessary delay. This impatience was increased upon learning 
nat .he enemy had sent a force of cavulry across the Cumberland into Ken- 
tuck '. I feared Hood would cross his whole army, and give us great trouble 
thei •. After urging upon General Thomas the necessity of immediately as- 
8un ing the offensive, I started west to superintend matters there in person. 
Reo -hing Washington City, I received General Thomas's dispatch announcing 
his ittack upon the enemy, and tlie result, as far as the battle had progressed. 
I V as delighted. All r'y fears and apprehensions were dispelled. I am not 
yei satisfied but tha' General Thomas, immediately upon the appearance of 
He od before Nashv' .e, and before he had time to fortify, should have moved 
ov , with his wlv .c force and given bim battle, instead of waiting to remount 
hii cavalry, wl ch delayed him until the inclemency of the weather made it 
iiiipracticabif lo attack earlier than he did. But his final defeat of Hootl was so 
< omplete, l\at it will be accepted as a vindication of that distinguished officer's 
judgment." 

The battle of Nashville did more than vindicate the judg- 
ment of Thomas ; it set an additional seal to his reputation, 
as a cool, determined, and far-seeing general. Without 
evincing that electric briUiancy which characterizes generals 
of the first historic class, he stands high among those solid, 
rock'like men who shine most in dark hours, and Avho earn 
laurels in periods when they would often bo lost by more 
brilliant men. He was appointed major-general in the regu- 
lar army, to rank as such from the loth day of December — 
the date of his success at Nashville. 



OTTIKIl r.MITS OF TIIK (JIU'AT TIIIIVTIIK. .|05 

GENEIUL IKiOI). 

Entirely apart from politiiial coiisiild'alions, it becomes 
every soldier to speak with pity and resjiect of his antagonist 
Hood. He was brave, devoted, and S(>lf-sa(;rificin;^ ; and if, 
in his own languaj^'e, he was "responsible; for tiie conception 
of that campaij^n," W(> bcilieve it is equally tnw tiiat he 
" strove hard to do his duty in its (>X(H'utioii." Ht; had lost 
i\w. nse of an arm at Gettysburg, and had lost a leg at the 
battle of Chickamauga. But the military critic must share 
the opinion of the lieutenant-general, and find him guilty of 
violating one of the first maxims of warfare, by " doing what 
his enemy wanted him to do." Such men are invaluable 
when controlled, but should never be placed in chief com- 
mand. 

It is not deemed necessar}' in this summaiy of the actions, 
within the vast theatre controlled by the lieutenant-general, 
to dwell upon the minor operations, except so far as they 
bear upon the strategy of the war. Among these are to be 
classed the merciless raids of Forrest, cuttmg our communi- 
cations between the East and West. He was brought to his 
bearings at Tupelo, on the 14th of July, by A. J. SmitL 
He was driven from Paducah by General Hicks ; and he re- 
ceived the surrender of Fort Pillow, to perpetrate one of the 
most inhuman massacres recorded in military histor}' — the 
murder of helpless prisoners, white and black, after they had 
sxirrendered in ijood faith. 



MOBILE. 

We must now turn for a moment to glance at the condition 
of affairs at Mobile. General Canby had been placed in 
command of the military division west of the Pacific. In the 
latter part of July. Admiral Farragut jn-ojected an attack 
upon the forts at the entrance of Mobile P)ay. and witii him 
was sent, from Canby 's department, a land fonr under Gen- 
eral Gordon Granger. W»' have not space in which to tell 



^6 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

t]:o brilliant story which has given such lustre to the name of 
Farragut. Fort Gaines surrendered on the 8th of August, 
and Fort Powell, on the island opposite, was blown up on the 
9th. Fort Morgan, on the opposite side of the chief entrance, 
was at once invested by the land troops, and surrendered on 
the 23d. The captui-es were fourteen hundi-ed and sixty -five 
prisoners, and one hundred and four guns. 



PRICE INVADES MISSOUEI. 

Let us turn now a hurried glance to another prominent por- 
^on of the field. Near the end of August, the rebel General 
Price had collected at Jackson Post a force of ten thousand 
jneu, to invade Missouri, wliich was in command of General 
Rosccrans, with an adequate force to defend it. Price ad- 
vanced rapidly to the attack of Pilot Knob, and forced the 
garrison to retreat ; but such temerity and foolhardiness 
could not long go unpunished. 

General Curtis collected such forces as he could to prevent 
his invasion of Kansas, whOe Pleasonton, with the cavahy of 
Rosecrans, moved rapidly in his rear. The result was not 
doubtful. Compelled to fight on the Big Blue River, Price 
was defeated with a loss of his trains and artillery, and fled 
ingloriously into Northern Ai'kansas. Although gratified 
with the result, Grant was not satisfied with the liandling of 
the troops. He says in his report : " The impunity with 
which Price was enabled to roam over the State of Missouri, 
and the iucalcual)le mischief done by him, show to how little 
purpose a superior force may be used. There is no reason 
why General Rosecrans should not have concentrated his for- 
ces and whipped Price before the latter reached Pilot Knob." 

On the 21th of September, Forrest took Athens in Ten- 
nessee, and from that point proceeded to Huntsville, which 
ho summoned twice, but it refused to surrender. He then re- 
turned to Athens, which had been reoccupied by our troops, 
and summoned it, but with no greater success. 



OTUEIl PARTS OF TTTE GREAT THEATRE. 407 

TO WYTIIEVrLLE ANT) 8AI>TVILLE. 

An oxjxHlitioii of Gcncr.il I>url)ritl^»i to .Salt\nll(\ in Vir- 
ginia, having been successful, the rebel General Breckinridge 
entered East Tennessee' and attacked Gilleni at Morristo^vn, 
and captured his artillery and a number of prisoners. Just 
at this juncture, General Stoneman, uniting the commands of 
Burbridgo and Gillem, near Bean's Station, proceeded to 
operate against Breckinridge, and also proposed to destroy 
the salt-works at Saltville, and the raih-oad into Virginia as 
far as possible. This expedition was eminently successful 
Stoneman defeated Vaughn, of Breckinridge's command, on 
the Kith of December, at Marion ; destroyed Wytheville and 
the lead-works ; and pushed on to Saltville, where he brok# 
np the salt-works. He then returned General Burbridge to 
Lexington, and General Gillem to Knoxville. 



408 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIQNSl 



CHAPTEE XXXVUL 

FORT FISHER. 
Th» tkoops land. — The bombabdmekt and assault. — CoicuEirra. — WaumaTOV 

FALLS. 

"We come now to the consideration of a very important 
movement, in wliicli Grant was more immediately interested 
than in those just referred to — the combined movement of the 
fleet and army to capture the strong works which defended 
the entrance, by the Cape Fear Kiver, to Wihnington. This 
city was by far the most valuable of the few seaports yet left 
to the enemy ; — a snug harbor for blockade-nmners, which 
carried in those articles of vital need to the Confederacy, and 
paid themselves liberally with the cotton which they brought 
out. Its strategic value was the greater because our navy 
could not seal it by a blockade. It was necessary to gain 
possession of a long strip of land north of New Inlet, and 
ending at Federal Point. Upon this the chief work was Fort 
Fisher, which presented a strong front to the sea, joining with 
another which looked northward. To take this, land troops 
were necessary, and these the lieutenant-general provided as 
soon as they were asked for. Admiral Porter had collected 
in Hampton Koads the largest flotilla ever assembled for an 
assault on a single point. Universal attention was attracted 
to it, and with that freedom of speech, which all the terrors of 
a mihtary law could not cm-tail, journals at the North gave 



FORT nsiiKH. ^09 

full publicity t(i tho army of the Sotith oonccrninp; its purposo. 
TIr' fiu'iiiy was tlius enaliKMl to strcn<^'then his linos of do- 
fenco to their utmost. On this account, tho movement was 
postponed until tho latter part of November. "Wluin all 
things were in readiness, Grant was called upon for an ade- 
quate force, which the winter inaction to tho armies' opera- 
tions against Eichmond enabled him to provide. 

The lieutenant-general went in person to Hampton Roads 
with General Butler, from whose department the troops were 
to be taken, to confer with Admiral Porter. In that confer- 
ence it was determined that a force of six thousand five hun- 
dred men would be suifici(>nt ; and as it was believed that 
Bragg had gone to Georgia, with the troops fi'om "Wilmington, 
to make head against Sherman, Grant and Porter were very 
anxious that the purpose of the expedition should be efiected 
before he could return. The arrangements for the embarka- 
tion of the troops were confided to General Butler, but Gen- 
eral "Weitzol was designated as commander of the expedition. 
The following are Grant's instinictions to Butler : 

i 

City Point, Vn., December 6, 1864. 

QE^niR.M- — The first object of the expedition under General Weitzel, is to 
dose to the enemy tho port of Wilmington. If successful in tliis, the second 
will be to capture Wilmington itself. There are reasonable grounds to 
hope for 8ucce.<s, if advantage can be taken of the absence of the greater part of 
the enemy's forces now looking after Sherman in (Jeorgia. The directions you 
have given for the numbers and equipment of the expedition are all right, ex- 
cept in the unimportant matter of where they embark and the amount of in- 
trenching tools to be taken. The object of the expedition will bo gained by 
effi'Cting a landing on the main land between Cajw Fear River and the 
Atlantic, north of tho north entrance to the river. Should such landing be ef- 
foctetl whilst the enemy still holds Fort Fisher and tho batteries guarding tho 
entrance to the river, then llie troops should intrench themselves, and by co- 
operating with the navy, efTect the reduction and cnptun* of those placca 
These in our hands, thi- navy could enti-r the harbor, and the port of Wilming- 
ton would be si-aled. Should Fort Fisher and the point of land on which it is 
built full into the hands of our troop8 immediately on landing, then it will be 
worth the attempt to capture Wilmington by a forcetl march and surprise. If 
time is consunie«l in gaining the first object of tho cxixjdition, tho second will 
become a matter of after consideration. 



410 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

The details for execntion are intrusted to you and the ofiBcer immediately in 
command of tlie troops. 

Should the troops under General Weitzel fail to effect a landing at or near 
Fort Fisher, tliey will be returned to the armies operating against Kichmond 
without delay. 

U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-Qeneral. 
Majok-Genkual B. F. Bdtlkr. 

It may here be stated, on the authority of General Grant's 
report, that the instructions thus sent by courtesy to General 
Butler, or some of them at least, did not reach General Weit- 
zel ; nor did that officer know of their existence until Gen- 
eral Butler published his report, after the failure of the expe- 
dition. It further appears Grant did not intend Butler to go 
in command, and thought, even after the expedition started, 
that Weitzel was in command, with full instructions, and that 
Butler had gone as a spectator, and principally to -^-itness the 
explosion of the powder-boat, which he considered a valuable 
adjunct to the expedition. 

Several days were still occupied in putting the j^owder-boat 
in order. Time was very valuable, and Grant became impa- 
tient. At length, on the 13th December, the transport fleet 
was under way, and, on the 15tli, in the evening, arrived off 
New Inlet, near Fort Fisher ; but without a proper arrange- 
ment of time with the navy, for Porter, being obhged to put 
into Beaufort to get ammunition for the monitors, his fleet did 
not arrive off Fort Fisher until the evening of the 18th. An- 
other vexatious delay now occurred. The transports were 
declared to be out of coal and water ; they must go back to 
Beaufort for these. At length, on the morning of the 24th, 
they reached the rendezvous. But, before the arrival of 
Butler, the powder-boat was taken in and exploded, with no 
results whatever. She had been brought around from Nor- 
folk in tow of the Sassacus ; her dangerous lading had been 
adjusted at Beaitfort ; she had been placed under the command 
of one of the coolest and most intrepid officers of tlio navy — 
Commander A. C. Rhind ; had been deftly carried in in the 
track of a bk)c'kade-runner ; had been anchored two himdred 



FORT FISHKU. 411 

yards from tho boaoli, iind four hundnHl y.-xrd.s from thu 
fort, and skilfully explodod, and " nobody hurt." 



THE TliOOPH LiVND. 

On the 25th tho landing of tho troops commen(;od, above 
Fort Fishor, and a nn'onnoissancc was at once pushtMl towards 
the works. The opinion of General Weitzid was adverse to an 
assault; and upon tliis, without wailini^ to learn the (>tl'ect of 
the naval bombardment, and without landing in jicrson to seo 
the position of afiairs for himself, Butler re-eml)arked his 
troops, and returned to Hampton Roads, to the utter surprise 
of General Grant, as well as of most of the officers of the ex- 
pedition. Some of these officers volunteered the report to 
Grant that they were nearly in the fort when the recon- 
noissance was withdrawn to re-embark. 

"Without entering further into tho controversy, we may say, 
that there were two men who were not inclined to abandon 
the project in such a light and summary manner ; these were 
Grant and Porter ; and both were stung by the exultation of 
the rebels at our voluntary and umiecessary retreat. 

The admiral still lay off the fort, and WTote to Grant for an- 
other leader, to bring the same number of troops, with whose 
co-operation he was certain of success. Grant now selected 
General Alfred H. Terry to lead the expedition, and sent down 
with him the same force which Butler had takcni, adding only 
one small brigade, and, as a precaution, a small siege-train, 
which, however, it was not found necessary to land. The 
troops were principally Ames's division, of the Twenty-fourth 
Corps ; Terry's First division, now commanded by Hawley ; 
and Paine's (coloredj division of the Twenty-iifth. The same 
chief-engineer, Colonel (now General) C. F. Comstock, accom- 
panied the expedition, the fortune of which was to sit in 
judgment on the former one. 

Grant communicated direct to the commander of tho expe- 
dition the following instructions : 



412 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

City Point, Va., January 3, 1865. 

Qeser.\l -The expedition intrusted to your command has been fitted out 
to renew the attempt to capture Fort Fisher, N. C, and Wilmingicn, ulti- 
mately, if the fort falls. You will then proceed, with as little delay as pos- 
Bible, to the naval fleet lying off Cape Fear River, and report the arrival of 
yourself imd command to Admiral D. D. Porter, commanding North Atbmtic 
Blockading Scjuadron. It is exceedingly desirable that the most complete 
understanding should exist between yourself and the naval commander. I 
suggest, therefore, that you consult with Admiral Porter freely, and get from 
him the part to be performed by each branch of the public service, so that there 
may be unity of action. It would be well to have the whole programme laid 
down in writing. I have served with Admiral Porter, and know that you can 
rely on his judgment and his nerve to undertake what he proposes. I would, 
therefore, defer to him as much as is consistent with your own respousibilitiea 
The first object to be attained is, to get a firm position on the spit of land on 
which Fort Fisher is built, from which you can operate against that fort. You 
want to look to the practicability of receiving your supplies, and to defending 
yourself against superior forces sent against you by any of the avenues lefl 
open to the enemy. If such a position can be obtained, the siege of Fort Fisher 
will not be abandoned until its reduction is accomplished, or another plan of 
campaign is ordered from these headquarters. 

My own views are, that if you effect a landing, the navy ought to run a 
p(jrtion of their fleet into Cape Fear River, whilst the balance of it operates on 
the outside. Land forces cannot invest Fort Fisher, or cut it off from supplies 
or re-enforcements whilst the river is in possession of the enemy. 

A siege-train will be loaded on vessels, and sent to Fort Monroe, in readiness 
to be sent to you if required. AU other supplies c^m be drawn from Beautbrt as 
you need tliem. 

Keep the fleet of vessels with you until your position is assured. When 
you find they can be spared, order them back, or such of them as you can 
spare, to Fort Monroe, to report for orders. 

In case of fiulure to effect a landing, bring your command back to Beaufort, 
and report to these headquarters for fm'ther instructions. You will not debark 
at Beaufort until so directed. 

General Sheridan has been ordered to send a division of troops to Baltimore, 
and i)lace them on sea-going vessels. These troops will be brought to Fort 
Monroe, and kept there on the vessels xmtil you are heard from. Should you 
require them, they will be sent to you. 

U. S. Qu.VNT, Lieutenant-GeneraL 

BuEVET Majou-Geneual a. II. Tkhry. 

Tlii.s now expedition sailed from Fortress Monroe on the 
6th of January^ and was at Beaufort on the Sth. Owing to 
Btros.s of weatlior, it did not rendezvous off the fort until the 



FOKT I'MSIIKR. .|13 

oveniii<; of the 12th. The troops were landod on tho IHth und 
14tli, ami, on tho litli, a stron*; reconnoiss.incc was pushed 
forward to within iivo hundred yards of Fort Fisher, nh)ng tho 
northeastern .or hmd front. Th(^re was entire harmony be- 
tween Porter and Terry, — a faet wliicli tho admiral afterwards 
published to the world in a letter, speakinpj of tho commander 
of the land forces in terms of unmeasured, but merited eulo- 
gium. After an arrangement between these ollicers, tho navj' 
moved to a new bombardment, while Terry prepared his col- 
umns of attack. 

THE BOMBARDMENT AND ASSAULT. 

The fleet moved up to its work in three grand di-visions, 
called tho inner, middle, and outer columns ; wliile tlu; iron- 
clads ranged in a distinct column dii*ectly under the guns of 
the fort. The bombardment began at a quarter before seven 
on the 15th, and continued until early afternoon, when the 
guns of the fort were silenced. Under cover of this fire, six- 
teen himdred sailors and marines were landed, under the 
command of Fleet-Captain Breese, to attack the eastern or sea 
front, while the storming party of land troops consisted of the 
brigades of Curtis, Peunypacker, and BeU. The rebel Gen- 
eral Hoke, in our rear, towards Wilmington, with five thou- 
sand men, was held in check by Abbot's brigade, which had 
not been with the former exjiiedition, and Paiue's division of 
colored troops. The tire of the fleet Tvas now deflected fi'om 
the points of attack, and at a given signal, at half-past three 
o'clock, the stormers rushed to the assault. The fort was 
held by about two thousand five hundred men, and the north- 
em front was filled with traverses. The rush of the sailors 
was so gallantly made, that for a brief space the enemy 
thought it the chief attack. They were soon undeceived. 
Ten-y's assaultin;; column, under Ames, broke down the 
ah'oady weakened palisades with axes, and were soon on the 
western ])art of the northern parapet ; and although tho ene- 
my fought with groat valor, the stormers swept in, followed 
by the reserves, and in a few minutes tho fort was ours, with 



414 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

all its garrison and equipage. The naval column, under Cap- 
tain Breese, although it failed to enter the work, did effective 
service as a diversion, and thus aided in producing the result. 
Terry's loss was one hundred and ten killed, and five hundred 
and thirty-six wounded. The navy lost three hundred and 
nine in killed and wounded. All this was on the 15th. On 
the 16th and 17th the enemy blew up Fort Caswell at the 
lower entrance, and Bald Head Battery opposite was taken, 
and thus we were in undisputed possession of both entrances 
by the Cape Fear Paver to Wilmington. 

On the 7th of January, Butler was reheved at Grant's 
request, and ordered to report at Lowell, Massachusetts. 
General Ord superseded him in command of the department 

COMMENTS. 

The actions which resulted in the capture of Fort Fisher 
have given rise to much controversy, and a wear)- stretch of 
correspondence. When Butler was relieved, he said, in his 
farewell order : " I have refused to order the useless sacrifice 
of the lives of such soldiers, and am reheved fi'om my com- 
mand ;" a Parthian shot, which, as Webster said of Havnes, 
failed to hit, " for want of strength in the bow," We need not 
dwell upon the criminations and recriminations. Porter says 
distinctly, in his report of the operations of the first expedi- 
tion : " Two magazines had been blown up by our shells, and 
the fort set on fibre in several places, and such a torrent of 
missiles was falling into it and bursting over it, that it was 
impossible for any thing human to stand it. * * The bat- 
teries were silenced completely." Referring to the abandon- 
ment of the project, he says : " General Weitzcl in person 
was making observations about six hundred yards off, and the 
troops were in and around the works. One gallant officer, 
whose name I do not know, went on the parapet and brought 
away the rebel flag we had knocked down. A soldier went 
into the works and led out a horse, killing the orderly mount- 
ed on him, and taking his dispatches from the body. Another 



FOUT KISIIEIL 416 

Bolilior firod his mnskot into tho bomb-proof jimonp thn rebels, 
and oi^'ht or ton othors who had ventured near the forts were 
wound(Hl by our shells." 

Ho ad.ls, with lof^ioal correctness : " I don't pretend to put 
my o]>iiii()ii in op]Misition to that of General "NVeitzel, who is a 
tliorouL,'h soldier anil an able enj^ineer, and whose business it 
is to know more of assaultinf^ than I do, but I can't help 
thinking that it was worth while to make tho attempt after 
coming so far." 

When he had determined to abandon the attempt and 
return to Hampton Roads, Butler wrote a letter to Porter, 
from which we make the following quotation : 

" General W.itzol atlvanccd his skirmish lino within fifty jards of tho fort 
while the garrison was kept in their bomb-proof by the fire of tho navy, and bo 
closely that three "or four men of the picket-line ventured upon the parapet 
imd through the sally-port of the work, capturing a horse, which they brought 
off, killing tho orderly, who was the bearer of a dispatch from chief of artillery 
of General Wliiting to bring a light battery witliin the fort, and also brought 
away from the parapet the flag of the fort. " 

To which Porter replied as follows : 

" I have ordered the largest vessels to proceed off Beaufort, and fill up with 
ammunition, to be ready for another attack in coee it is decided to proceed 
with this matter by making other arrangements. 

" We have not commenced firing rapidly yet, and could keep any rebels inside 
from shewing their heads until an assaulting column was within twenty yards 
of the works. 

" I wish some more of your gallant feUowa had follovotd the officer who took the 
flag from the parapet, and the brate fellow who brought tlu horse out from the fort. 
I think they would hate found it an easier conquest than is supposed. 

" I do not. however, pretend to place my opinion in opjxjsition to General 
Wcitzcl. whom I know to be an accomplished eoldier and engineer, and whoee 
opinion has groat weight with me." 

Tlie following letter from Grant throws still more light on 
the subject : 

Headquarters Armies of the rNirr.n States, 
CiTT I'oiWT, V'a., Juiniiiry 7, 1365. 

To avoid publicity of the time of sailing and destination of tho expedition 
againet Fort Fisher, my orders to General Hutler to i)np*re it were given ver- 
bally, and the iuatrucUons to tho commanding oflioor of the oxj>edition wm 



416 GRANT AND ITIS CAMPAIGNS. 

made by him and submitted to me. I append to the report a copy of General 
Butler'ti instructions to General Weitzel, together with copies of my dispatches 
and instructions to General Butler, relating to the expedition. It will be per- 
ceived that it was never contemplated that General Butler sliould accompany 
the expedition, but that Major-General Weitzel was especially named aa the 
commander of it. 

My hopes of success rested entirely on our ability to capture Fort Fisher, 
and I had even a hope of getting Wilmington before the enemy could get 
troops there to oppose us. I knew that the enemy had taken nearly the entire 
garrison of Wilmington and its dependencies to oppose Sherman. I am in- 
clined to ascribe the delay which has cost us so dearly to an experiment. I 
refer to the explosion of gunpowder in the open air. 

My dispatches to General Butler will show his report to be in error, where 
he states that he returned, after having effected a landing, in obedience to my 
instructions. On the contrary, these instructions contemplated no withdrawal 
or a failure after a landing was made. 

U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General. 

The lieutenant-general has published a report ou this sub- 
ject, gi^iug the orders and facts, from which it is unnecessary to 
di'aw. We need no more perfect condemnation of the mihtary 
conduct' of the first expedition than that which is contained in 
the success of the second attempt. Words can never destroy, 
nor are they needed to substantiate, glaring facts. The court 
of inquiry upon Butler sat around Fort Fisher ; Porter was 
the president and Terry the chief member, and the witnesses, 
every man, on land and fleet, that bore part in the action. 
And so we dismiss the case. 

General T\Tiiting, the Confederate commander, was griev- 
ously wounded in the last assault, and died a prisoner in the 
harbor of New York. A graduate of West Point, at the head 
of his class, he had talents of a high order, not untinged, 
however, with a consciousness of his merits to their fullest 
extent. He expiated his fault with his hfe, and we prefer to 
remember him as the clever, vivacious, black-haired cadet, 
than as the loser of his fort and his life. 

WILMINGTON FALLS. 

The movement upon Wilmington was at once begun. 
Terry's force was not hii-ge enough to storm or flank the 



FORT FISHER 417 

outer, (lofcncoa ; and so movinp up closn to tlio robcl works, ho 
waited for ro-enforconu'nts under Sclioficld, wlio hud been 
detached Ity the lieutenant-general fir>m Thomas's command 
after tlie battle of Nashville. Scliolitld caiiic up on the 15th 
of February, and assumed coniniand. On the ICtth, at night- 
fall, he moved Cox's division across to Smithville and up the 
right bank of tlu^ Cape Fear Kiver, to take Fort Anderson in 
rear, while Porter eniiladed it with iron-elads. On the 18th 
our lines were strengthened for an assault, which the enemy 
saved us the trouble of making, by evaciu^ting the works on 
the lUth at dawn. Cox pushed forward across Brunswick 
River to Eagle Island, thus flanking the peninsula defences, 
and, on the evening of the 21st, the enemy, burning his cotton, 
resin, and supplies, evacuated the city of "Wllmingtcm. Our 
troops entered on the morning of the 22d, having lost not 
more than two himdi*ed and fifty men since the fall of Fort 
Fisher. Another Avord-scntcnce of terrible import was thus 
written : the handwriting on the wall was nearly completed. 

27 



418 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 



CONCENTRATION. 



Plans of Sherman. — March ; the strategic dsher. — Fort Steadman. — Shebi- 
dan's orand march. — Sherman's visit. — The movement to the left. 

When Thomas had been ordered to send Schofield east, 
Grant also directed him to send A. J. Smith's corps and a 
cavah-y di-s-ision to Canbj, for service in Northern Alabama 
and Mississippi. 

North Carohna had now become a field of gi'eat prospective 
interest, and Grant constituted it a distinct niihtary depart- 
ment, of which he gave Schofield the command. His orders 
to Schofield are here given in extenso. 

CiTT Point, Va., January 31, 1865. 
Gekeral — .... Ydur movements are intended as cooperative 
with Slierraan'.s through the States of South and North Carolina. The first 
point to be attained is to secure Wilmington. Goldsboro' wUl then be your 
objective point, moving either from Wilmingt(m or Newbern, or both, as you 
deem best. Should you not be able to reach Goldsboro', you avUI advance on 
the line or lines of railway connecting that place with the seacoast, as near to 
it as you can, building the road behind you. The enterprise under you has two 
objects : the first is to give Sherman material aid, if needed, in his mttrch 
north ; the second, to open a base of supplies for him on his line of march. As 
soon, therefore, as you can determine which of the two Jxjints, Wilmington or 
Newbern, you can best use for throwing supplies from, to the interior, you 
will commence the accumulation of twenty days' rations and forage for sixty 
thousand men and twenty thousimd animals. You will get of these as many 
as you can house and i)rotcct to such point in the interior as you may be able 
to occupy. I believe General Palmer has received some instructions direct 
from General Sherman on the subject of securing sujiplies for his army. You 
c;ui learn what steps he has taken, and be governed in your requisitions 
aorurdiugly. A supply of ordnance stores will also be necessary. 



CONCENTRATION. 419 

Miiko all ro<juisitions upon tl liicfs of tlnir n-sp^'^iivp departments in tlin 

field with rao at Citv Point. ('onununicat<> with me by ovory opi»ortunity, and 
should you dt-eni it necttwary at any time, 8<mu1 a hiktIiiI Ijoat to Fortress Mf)n- 
nx*. from whicli jK)int you can communicat*' by t<>li-(^rapli. 

The Kupplie.s refern-d to in thfse inatructions are exclusive of tl;o«<- P«|uir('<l 
for your own command. 

The movements of the enemy may justify you, or even make it your im- 
perative duty, to cut loos*' from your base, and strike for the interior to aid 
Shernuin. In such ca.se, you will act on your own jiuig^inent, without waiting 
for instructions. You will report, however, what you projiosc doinp. The de- 
tails for carrying out these instructions are necessarily left to you. I would 
urge, however, if I did not know that you are already fully alive to the import- 
ance of it, prompt action. Sherman may be looked for in the; neighlwrhood 
of (Joldsboro" any time from the 22d to the 28th of February. This limits your 
time very materinlly. 

If rolling st^ick is not secure<l in the capture of Wilmington, it can be sup- 
plied fnim Washington. A large force of railroad-men has already been seat 
t4i Beaufort, and other mechanics will go to Fort Fieher in a day or two. On 
this jHiint I have informed you by tt-legraph. 

r. S. (rK^VNT, Lieu tenant-General 
Majiik-(.»kner,\l .1. M. SenoFiEi-i>. 

PLANS OF SHERMAN. 

TNlien Sherman had osta1)lisli«Hl himself at Savannah, it 
became a question of immeJiato importance as to the next 
use to be made of his army. The general plan was already 
indicated : he was to concentrate and co-operate with Grant ; 
but in what manner might this be best accomplished ? The 
first mode of answering this question which suggested itself to 
Grant, was to order him to take transports and l)ring his 
army direct to City Point. But the Atlantic zone was almost 
free from rebel soldiers. Hood was so tembly beaten that his 
force could never seriously make head against any movement 
Sherman might propose. Besides, ocean transportation was 
scarce and miserable, and so (Jrant wrote countermandiiig his 
first letter, and asking for Sherman's views. A\'ith a piercing 
vision, backed by a brave, self-reliant soul, Sherman, retidy to 
do whatever he was ordered, expressed a disire to move on 
Columbia, South Carolina, and tluii to liahigli. He seemed, 
lt«'sides, so confident of his ability to march iij) with no im- 
pediment that lif (mdM not lirusli ;i\v:iv, tli;it (liMiit si-nt him 



420 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

ju: order in general terms, on the 28th of December, directing 
him to carry out his plans ; and in that way, to come up and 
join him before Kichmond. Sherman was also informed that 
Schofield would march upon Goldsboro' to co-operate with 
him. Schofield had at Wilmington twenty-one thousand 
men, and there were eight thousand at Fort Fisher, and four 
tliousand at Newbern, all of which were to move inland to 
join Sherman, should he succeed in marching up into North 
Carolina. 

In accordance with these plans, Schofield at once pushed 
forward two columns ujoon Goldsboro', one fi-om Wilmington 
and the other from Newbern, taking in the latter the division 
of General Innis Palmer, who had been in command there. 
Kinston was occupied, after a severe battle, on the 14th of 
February ; and after a rest, Goldsboro' was entered on the 
20th. 

Sherman's march northward to accomphsh his part of the 
grand programme, was magnificent in the extreme. His 
army, spreading over a large surface whenever it marched, 
left Savannah on the 1st of February, and, flanking Charles- 
ton, entered Columbia on the 17th. Thence he moved on 
Goldsboro', by the way of Winsboro', Cheraw, and Fayette- 
ville, on the Cape Fear, and opened communication with 
Schofield by the Cape Fear Eiver, on the 12th of March. At 
Averysboro' the enemy, under Hardee, endeavored to impede 
his advance, and Sherman, fighting the battle in person, beat 
him and drove him away. Again, at Bentouville, the euemv 
attacked our advanced corps fiercely. At first we were driven 
back, but by the skiKul management of Slocum, who com- 
manded the advance, the enemy could make no further im- 
pression upon our lines, and was forced to withdraw. The 
enemy were here commanded by General J. E. Johnston, 
whose first success is thus reported by General Lee : 

"GeneralJ. E. Johnston reports that about five o'clock p. m. oji the 19th 
instant, lie attacked tlic oncniy near Benlonvillo, routed liini, aud captured 
tliree guns. 

"A mile in tlie rear he rallied on fresh troojis, but was forced back slowly 



CONCENTRATION. 421 

ontil six r. m., when, receiving mon.' troopH, ho npimrontly asfnimed tlio offt'D- 
sive, wliich wus ret<i8t«<l without ditllrulty until liark." 

But such littlo (liisht'S at our atlviinco were of no vjiluo to 
the rebels, and of very littli- etl'ect on us. The gianil plan 
went on almost unimpeded, and Sherman joined Schotield at 
(ioldsl)oro', marchiuj^ in tlu^ Arniies of Tennessee and Georgia 
on the '13d ami *21th of March. There his troops — not wearied, 
but wanting; clothing, shoes, and supplies — were halted, while 
these were brought up from the coast ; and in the mean 
time, Sherman, feeling that the end was near, set out for a 
brief visit to City Point, where he met in conference the lieu- 
tenant-general, Mr. Lincoln, and other ofl&cers. The inter- 
view was very brief. He returned to Goldsboro' on the 3()th. 

We must here introduce tiie detailed iustiiictions of Grant 
to General Thomas, indicating his cast in the great dnima 
wliich was now in its last act : 

<iTY Point, Va., Fchraiiry 14, 18'"«">. 

Genenil Canby is preparing a movement from Mobile Bay against Mobile 
and the interior of Alabama. His force will consist of about twenty thousiind 
men, besides A. J. Smiili's command. The cavalry yo.' have sent to Canby 
will be debarked at Vicksburg. It, with tin; available cavalry already in that 
.section, will move from then- eastward in co-0|ieration. Hootl's army has been 
U'rribly reduced by the seveje pimishment you gave it in Teniussee, by dew r- 
tion consequent ui>on their defeat, and now by the withdrawal of many of them 
to opiKjee Sherman. - 1 take it a large portion of the infantry has been so with- 
drawn. It is so asserted in the Richmond papers ; and a member of the rebel 
fongn-ss said, a few days since, in a sp«'ech, that one-half of it had been brought 
to South Carolina to opjuwe Sherman ) 'I'his being true, or even if it is not 
tnu', Canby's movement will attract all the attention of the enemy, and leave 
an advance from your standpoint easy. I think it advisable, tlierefore, that 
you prepare as much of a cavalry force as you can spare, and hold it in readi- 
ness to go south. The objict would be threefold : First, to attract as much of 
the enemy's force as possible, to insure success to Canby ; second, to destroy 
the enemy's line of communications and military resources ; third, to destroy or 
capture their forces brought into tin- fi«-ld. Tuscaloosa and Selma would prob- 
ably be tlie |)<)ints to direct the exiHtliiinn against. Tliis, howcviT, would not 
Ix' .so important as the mere fact of penetn\ting dt'<'p into Alabama. Diw^retion 
-htiuld be Ifrt to the offic<'r commanding the exi>edition to go where, according 
to the information he may ri-oeive, he will U-st secure the objects named above. 
Now that your force has been so much depleted, I do not know what number 



422 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

of men you can put into the field. If not mure than five thousand men, how- 
ever, all aivalry, I tliink it will be suflBcient. It is not desirable that you 
should start this expedition until the one leav-ing Vicksburg has been three or 
four days out, or even a week. I do not know when it will start, but will 
inform you by telegraph as soon as I learn. If you should hear through other 
sources before hearing from me, you can act on the information received. 

To insure success, your cavalry should go with as little wagon-train as pi>>- 
sible, relying upon the coimtry for supplies. I would also reduce the number 
of guns to a battery, or the number of batteries, and put the extra teams to the 
guns taken. No gvms or caissons should be taken with less than eight horses. 

Please inform me by telegraph, on receipt of this, what force you think you 
will be able to send, vmder these directions. 

U. S. Gkant, Lieutenant-General. 
Majok-Genekal Geoi'.ge II. TnoiiAs. 

Leaving General Thomas to carry out these instiiictions, 
we must now go back a biief sp:ice in the chronological order, 
to cast a glance at the armies in front of Petersburg and 
Richmond. We have spoken of winter inaction ; but this 
phrase must be understood onlj in a relative sense. In the 
first place, the weather and temperature had much to do in 
forcing a rest upon the troops ; and besides, as has been now 
seen, the time must be spent bj the lieutenant-general in 
bringing all his armies together, in concentration upon Rich- 
mond. But the inactixdtj was by no means unbroken. Many 
cavahy movements were made, to which we need not refer ; 
but on the 31st of January, an important demonstration was 
ordered to be made by the Ai-my of the Potomac, to look 
again for the enemy's right flank, and tkreaten the Southside 
and Danville roads. Owing to preparations and the state of 
the weather, the army did not move, however, until the 5th of 
FebiTiary. In the mean time, an unintermittod cannonade 
was ordered along the rebel lines, to keep their troops in 
place and cover the intended movement. 

THE MO\'EMENT TO THE LEFT. 

Gregg's cavahy, followed by the Fifth Corps, under Warren, 
and the Second, imder Humphreys, were put in motion for 
Hatcher's llun, with foui' days' rations and several batteries. 



rONCFNTRATION. 12^ 

Wliilo tlio cannonado was still in progress, the cavalrj' moved 
down the Jt'nis!iK>ni road to Reams' Station. (}re«,'g met at 
Rowanty Creek a eavaliy fore(>, dismounted and beliind ]>reast- 
■works, on tlio opposite side. TlKsr lie dislodged, witli tlio 
assistan('f> of one infantry l>rigade of the l'"'ifth Coq^s ; and 
tlienee lie moved to Dimviddie C'onrtliouse, sending out scout- 
ing parties, one of which moved some distance unimj)cded up 
the Roydton road. Rut he moved back the same m'glit to 
Rowanty Creek. Humphreys, with two divisions, moved out 
on the Vaughan road to the crossing of Hatcher's Run, and 
the brigade of De Trobriand was pushed across. The Fifth 
Corps marched out on the Halifax road, and crossed Rowanty 
Creek. This was the condition of things on Sunday night. 
On Monday, the Gth, Gregg moved forward, finding it neces- 
sary to corduroy his way, on the Boydton and Vaughan roads. 
The Fifth and Second Coi-jis were in position, the Second on 
the right ; and the Sixth and Ninth were moved westward, 
ready, in reserve, to aid the movement. Warren sent Craw- 
fords division to occui)y Dabney's mill ; but it was encoun- 
tered fiercely by Pegi'am, who was also reconnoitring, and 
who was at first compelled to retire. The ground was mil-}-, 
and the undergrowth thick and tangled ; but Crawford pur- 
sued with energy, until Pegi-am, finding Evans' di^-ision com- 
ing to re-enforce him, halted and formed, and then, althouerh 
assisted by Ap-es, Cra-\\-ford was compelled to fall back. The 
result is, that our forces retire to their intrenched position 
along the Vaughan road and Hatcher's Run, where the 
enemy's impetuous advance is checked. On Weflnesday, the 
8th, Crawford and Whcaton are again sent foi'ward, but can 
eflfect nothing. 

But our lines have been extended further westward, and we 
have a strong point of departure along the Vaughan road and 
the lower part of Hatcher's Run, when the last cry, " Up and 
at them." shall be uttered by the lieut<'nant-general. Rv the 
middle of Febniary, the supply railroad from City Point was 
extended to the run, at the cro.ssing of the Vaughan road, and 
the run held bv a strong Federal force. 



424 GRANT AND HIS CAJVIPAIQNS. 

Sheridan's grand march. 

In the long-desii'ed and now rapidly increasing concentra- 
tion of the armies upon Eichmond, which should so encircle 
and inclose Lee as to force his final suiTender, it was now the 
time for Sheridan to move southward. The rebels had virtu- 
aUj abandoned the Shenandoah Valley, and Grant determined 
to bring Sheridan do\vn, to cut the westward communications 
with Piichmond, and then either to join Sherman's force, pass- 
ing Eichmond on the west, to bring him to the Army of the 
Potomac, or to let him move back, covering the VaUey. 
Which should be done, would depend much upon the circum- 
stances which would be developed on Sheridan's march. 
Grant, however, sent him the following letter of instructions, 
which looks to a junction with Sherman : 

City Point, Va., February 20, 1S65 — 1 r. a. 

QeneraIj — As soon as it is possible to travel, I think you wiU have no 
difficulty about reacliing Lynchburg with a cavalry force alone. From there 
you could destroy the railroad and canal in every direction, so as to be 
of no further use to the rebellion. Sufficient cavalry should be left behind to 
look after Moseby's gang. From Lynchburg, if information you might get 
there would justify it, you could strike south, heading the streams in Virginia 
to the westward of Danville, and push on and join Sherman. This additional 
raid, with one now about starting from East '''ennessee, under Stoneman, 
numbering four or five thousand cavalry ; one from Vicksburg, numbering seven 
or eight thousand cavalry ; one from Eastport, Mississippi, numbering ten 
thousand cavalry ; Canby, from Mobile Bay, with about thirty-eight thousand 
mixed troops — these three latter pushing for Tuscaloosa, Selma, and Mont- 
gomery, and Sherman with a large army eating out the vitals of South Carolina 
— is all that will be wanted to leave nothing for the rebellion to stand upon. I 
would advise you to overcome great obstacles to accomplish this. Charleston 
was evacuated on Tuesday last. 

U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-Genera). 

Majob-General p. H. Suekidan. 

In answer to Sheridan's question as to where Sherman was 
going. Grant could only reply, " It is doubtful, but I think 
he is going to Fayetteville, on his way to Goldsl)oro'." He 
further stated, that when Sheridan should reach L}Tichburg, 



CONCENTRATION. 125 

should lie t.iko that ronto, Ivo would probably find Shcrinau 
moving upon llaKij^di ; opinions, it may ln' now seen, that wi-ro 
correctly stated. Sheridan set out u])on his march of alter- 
natives, leaving "NVinehester on the '27th of Fcbniary. He 
had two cavalry divisions of aljout live thousand each. By h 
rapid march he saved the bridge across the Middle Fork at 
Mount Crawford, by arriving before the enemy could destroy 
it, on the 1st of March ; reached Staunton on the 2d, and 
pursued Early to his intrenchments at Waynesboro'. Tliere, 
without waiting to reconnoitre, such was his momentum, he 
attacked at once, beat Early, took his works, sixteen hundred 
prisoners, eleven guns, two huudjed wagons and teams, and 
seventeen battle-flags. The prisoners he sent back to Win- 
chester. 

Th(> circle of the hunt was now becoming smaller, and was 
V)( ing rapidly reduced, as all the converging radii were 
shortened, to a single point. On the 3d of March, his force 
had reached CharlottesAdlle, destroying the railroad and the 
bridge in its march. From that point, a detachment made a 
complete destniction of the railroad towards Eichmond, 
including the large iron bridge across the Eivanna River ; 
while his main body waited at Charlottesville two days for 
the arrival of his trains. 

It was this delay, among other circumstances, which caused 
him to abandon the idea of going to Lynchburg, and thence 
to find Sherman ; and determined him to complete his work 
of destruction, and then either join Grant or return to Win- 
chester. At Charlottesville he divided his force into two 
columns. The fii'st division moved upon Scotts^'iUe, which it 
reached on the morning of the (Uh of March, and it marched 
up the James Eiver to New Market, destroying every lock and 
large portions of the banks of the James River Canal. One 
part of this force also went to Dugtiidsville, to secure the 
Ijridge, l)ut the enemy had already burnt it. 

His second column proceeded down the railroad towards 
Lynchburg, destroying it as far as Amherst Courthouse, 
sixteen miles from L>Tichburg ; and from that point joined 



426 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

the other cohimn at New Market. At New Market, Sheri- 
dan would have crossed the river, in order to move rajjidly 
southeast and strike the Southside road at Farmville, and 
destroy it towards Appomattox Courthouse ; but the water 
was very high, and his ponton-bridge would not reach across, 
and as time was invaluable, he determined, instead of return- 
ing to Wmcliester, to strike at once for ^Tiite House, on the 
Pamunkey, on his way to join Grant. This the lieutenant- 
general says, was a fortunate choice, and subsequent events 
have most ftilly demonstrated that it was so. 

In pursuing this course, he marched from New Market, 
down the canal towards Eicliniond, destroying the locks and 
banks as he went. On the 10th he was at Columbia, and 
while resting there for one day, he sent scouts to Grant re- 
questing that supplies should be dispatched to meet him at 
White House. This request Grant received on the 12th, and 
at once sent an infantry force to occupy TiTiite House, taking 
with them supplies to meet Sheridan on his arrival. From 
Columbia he made a sUght detour northward, thus threaten- 
ing Piichmond. He crossed the Annas near Ashland, and 
having destroyed the railroads completely, crossed to the left 
bank of the Pamunkey, to protect his march, and thus 
reached AYhite House on the 19th. The raid had been gi-and ; 
the arrival was timely : there was work for Sheridan to do, 
which perliajis no other man could do as well. 

ivLvriCn ; the strategic usher. 

The montli of March had ah-oady been the -^dtness of great 
combinations : it was to see greater things yet. Let us look 
for a moment at the condition of affair's. 

Interior lines were no longer valuable ; our masses were 
almost within communicating distance, and were much larger 
than the forces of the enemy. Grant's projects had been pro- 
phetic, and were now almost fulfilled. Lee was almost shut 
up by the Armies of tlie Potomac and the James. Johnston 
could onlv observe Sliennan, without checkiii'' him. Earlv 



ro.\(i;.\ 1 1;.\ HON. 427 

aiul Il!iin]>ton W(<ro no iimtcli for Shcridnn, who was now at 
Wliitr. House. Canby had Dirk Taylor at a disadvantaf^o, 
and was now moving.; on ISIoMle. Tlionias had sont two 
cavahy oxpeditions, one uiidt r Wilson into Nortlnn'n Alal)ama, 
and tlu' other under Stoneiuan iVoni East Tennessee towards 
Lviu-hl»ur^. Po|)(> was pnjiarint^ for a eanipait^ni a^'ainst 
Kirl>y Smith and Price, west of the Mississipj)!. Haneoek 
was at ^^'in^•lu'ster, where h«' eould hold the Valley, and when 
wanted, niareh a new force southward upon Pvichniond. 

In this coujnnctnre, it was no longer any fear that he could 
not capture l\iehniond, which troubled General Grant. That 
was sure, but what he feared was, that Lcc, u sensible man 
and a skilful general, would see that the game was up, and 
make good his escai)e fiom Richmond, before our armies 
were quite ready to strike the final blow, and capture his 
whole force. This was indeed the danger. It was a problem 
of exceeding delicacy. Should Lee break away and join his 
army to that of Johnston, they had the mountains to retreat 
to, and might have still given us great trouble. 

But besides this, there was another important consideration 
which weighed gi'eatly with Grant. The Army of the Potomac 
had done the noblest, most onerous, continuous service, not 
always requited by the success which it deserved. It was 
composed chiefly of Eastern troops and Eastern commanders. 
On the other hand, the armies of the West had been crowned 
with brilliant successes. That Sherman would be able event- 
ually to come up and join the armies operating against Kich- 
moud, there was no doubt ; and then the ultimate success 
would have been considered due to the aiTival of the We^stem 
armies. Thert' would have arisen bitter rivalries among oflB- 
cers and men, between the East and West : the relative 
modicum of merit would have been fiercely di.scussed in and 
out of Congi-e.ss. If, then, it were possible, let the Army of 
the Potomac finish the work they had so nolily begun. This, 
although a secondary view, was strongly corroborative of his 
jmqioses already formed. 

On the "2 Jth !Marc]i he ])repared for the grand final move- 



428 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

ment, of which he was reasonably hopeful that it would bring 
the matter to an end. His instructions must be presented as 
a vital part of the history. 

City Point, Va., March -24, 1865. 

Genekal — On the 29th instant the armies operating against Richmond will 
be moved by our left, for the double purpose of turning the enemy out of his 
present position around Petersburg, and to insure the success of the cavalry 
under General Sheridan, which wiU .start at the same time, in its eflforts to 
reach and destroy the Southside and Danville railroads. Two corps of the 
Army of tlie Potomac will be moved at first, in two colimins, taking the two 
roads crossing Hatcher's Run nearest where the present line held by us strikes 
that stream, both moving towards Dinwiddle Courthouse. 

The cavalry under General Sheridan, joined by the division now under 
General Da vies, will move at the same time, by the Weldon road and the Jerusa- 
lem plankroad, turning west from the latter before crossing the Nottoway, 
and west with the whole column reaching S»ney Creek. General Sheridan 
will then move independently under other instructions, which will be 
given him. All dismounted cavalry belonging to the Army of the Poto- 
mac, and the dismounted cavalry from the Middle Military Division not 
required for guarding property belonging to their arm of ser^ice, will re- 
port to Brigadier-General Benham, to be added to the defences of City Point. 
Major-General Parke will be left in command of all the army left for holding 
the lines about Petersburg and City Point, subject, of course, to orders from 
the commander of the Army of the Potomac. The Ninth Army Corps will be 
left intact to hold the present line of works, so long as the whole line now 
occupied by us is held. If, however, the troops to the left of the Ninth Corps 
are witlldra^vn, then the left of the corps may be thrown back so as to occupy 
the position held by the army prior to the capture of the ^^'eldon road. All 
troops to the left of the Ninth Corps will be held in readiness to move at the 
shortest notice by such route as may be designated when the order is given. 

General Ord will detach three divisions, two white and one colored, or so 
much of them as he can, and hold his present lines, and march for the present 
left of the Army of the Potomac. In the absence of further orders, or until 
further orders are given, the white divisions will follow the left column of the 
Army of the Potomac, and the colored division the right column. During the 
movemf'nt, Major-General VVeitzel will be left in command of all the forces 
remaining behind from the Army of the James. 

The movement of troops from the Army of the James will commence on 
the night of the 27th instant. General Ord will leave behind the minimum 
number of cavalry necessary for picket duty in the absence of the main army. 
A cavalry expedition from General Ord's command will also bo starti'd from 
Suffolk, to leave there on Saturday, the 1st of April, unJt^r Colonel Sunnu-r. 
for the purpose of cutting the railroad about Ilicksford. This, if accomplished, 
will have to be a Burprise, and therefore, from three to five hundred men wiU 



COMKNTUATION. I'iO 

bo sufllrirnt. Thoy sh >ul i. huw.-v.r. b»- Mi|.|>>rl. «l bv nil th.' infantry tliut can 
bo spur.d horn Norfolk iind PcirtBinoulh. jih far out n-s U> whiTO tho ravnlry 
crosses tlio Uiiickwattr. Tlio cnissinjf nhoul<l i>robably Ix" at rniton. Should 
C'K)lon.l Suinn.r succeed in reaching tho Weldon road, he will Iw injrtructed to 
do nil the dnnmgo iKJUsible to the trinnple of roads iM-lwem Ilirksfoni, \V«!ldon, 
and (Juston. Tho railroad-bridge at Weldon being fitu-d nj) for the jiasMnge 
of carriages, it might bo practicable to destroy any nccuniulation of supplieB 
the enemy may have collccU-d south of the Itonnoke. All tho troo|>« will move 
with four days' rations in hnvjTsacks and eight days' in wagons. To avoid as 
much hauling as i>ossible, and to give the Army of the Janu's tho sam*; numln-r 
of days' supplii-s with the Army of tlu' Potomuc, (J.-neral Onl will direct his 
commissary and quartermaster to have sutricient sui)i>lies delivered at the ter- 
minus of the mad to fill up in passing. Sixty rounds of ammunition per man 
will be taken in wagons, and as much grain as the trunsportation on hand will 
carry, after taking the specified amount of other supplies. The densely 
wixxled country in which the army has to operate making the use of much 
artillery impracticable, the amount taken with the anny will be reduced to 
8i\ or eight iruns to each division, at the ojaion of the army commanders. 

All necessary preparations for carrj-ing these directions into operation mpy 
be commenc*>d at once. The reserves of the Ninth Corps should h*' ma.x.<«'d as 
much as possible. Whilst I would not now order an unconditional attack on 
the enemy's line by them, they should be ready, and shouhl make the attack, 
if the enemy weakens his line in their front, without waiting for orders. In 
case they carry the line, then the whole of the Ninth Corps could follow up so 
as to join or co-operate with the balance of tho army. To prepare for this, the 
Ninth Corps will have rations issued to them the same as the balance of the 
army. General \\eitzel will keep vigilant watch upon his front, and if found 
at all practicable to break through at any point, he will do so. A success north 
of the James should be followed up with great promptness. An attack will not 
be feasible unless it is found that the enemy has detached largely. In that case, 
it may be regarded as evident that the enemy are relying upon their local re- 
serves |)rincipally for the defence of liichmond. Prei^arations may be made for 
abandoning all the line north of the James, except inclose<l works ; only to 
be abandoned, however, after a break is made in the lines of the enemy. 

By thes<- instructions, a large part of the armies opi^rating against Rich 
mond is left behind. The enemy, knowing this, may, as an only chance, strip 
their lines to the merest skeleton, in the hoiH? of advantage not b«-ing taken of 
it, whilst they hurl ever}- thing against the moving column, and return. It 
cannot be impressed too strongly ujjon commanders of troops left in the 
trenches, not to allow this to occur without taking advantage of it. Tho very 
fact of the enemy coming out to attack, if he does so, might Ikj regarded as 
conclusive evidence of such a weakening of his lines. 1 would have it |mrtica- 
larly enjoint-d uixin corj^s commanders, that in case of an attack fn)m tlu; ene- 
my, those not attacked are not to wait for orders from the aimmanding officer 
of the army to which they belong, but tliat they will move promptly, and 



430 GRA>'T AND HIS CAMrAIGNS. 

notify the commander of their action. I wish also to enjoin the same action on 
the part of divijiion commanders, when other parts of their corps are engaged. 
In like manner, I would urge the importance of following up a repulse of the 
enemy. 

U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-Qeneral. 
Majob-Generals Meade, Ord, and Sheridan. 

But a desperate movement of the enemy now hastened the 
catastrophe, which was abeady imminent. 



FORT STE.\DMAN. 

Two divisions under General Gordon — Gordon's own and 
Bushrod Johnson's — quietly massing in front of the Ninth 
Corps, which held the Appomattox towards the left, burst 
upon our intrenchments on Hare's Hill, not a mile fi'oni the 
river, at daybreak on the 25th of March, captured Fort Stead- 
man by a surprise and coiqj-de-main, with Batteries Nine, Ten, 
and Eleven, on its flanks. The space between the contending 
Hues was only one hundred and fifty yards. The Third Bri- 
gade of the First Division of the Ninth Corps guarded that 
part of the lines, while the Fourteenth New York Heavy Ar- 
tillery occupied the fort, which Avas a square redoubt, covering 
about one acre, and mounting nine gims. Clearing his own 
abatis, and unimpeded by ours, Gordon was in in a moment, 
and turned the guns upon the adjacent batteries. Nine, Ten, 
and Eleven, which were at once abandoned by our troops, and 
occupied by the rebels. It was a bold stroke, handsomely 
achieved, but his success was at an end. First checked in 
his progress by Fort Hascall, next on the left of Steadman, 
McLaughlin's brigade rallied, and, with the remainder of WOl- 
cox's division, fought valiantly to repair the faidt. 

The division of Hartranft, most of the men for the first time 
under fire, is ordered to attack ; and, rusliing upon Fort 
Steadman, pushes Gordon out into the space over which he 
had come, which is now also swqpt by the fire of adjacent 
batteries. Most of the enemy, cut ofi' by this cross-fire upon 
their hue of retreat, have no alternative but surrender ; and 
thus Hartranft secures nearly two thousand prisoners. 



concf,nti;ati(in. j:;! 

The iittiu-k, which for a nioiiu'iit promised ^Teat r» suits for 
tlie enemy, has not only been ii faihirr ami a Iosh, but it seems 
to liavt> bcfu the si^nial whieh hastenrd th«> movements 
alreadv projected by (Irant. Wakened into action by the 
lirin'T around Fort Steadman, ^leade oitlers all forward. 
Wright, whose corps lay on the left of the Ninth, nishcs to 
the attack as a diversion, and S(>izes the enemy's udvunced 
line. Humphreys, still fuither to the left, moves tlie Second 
Corps foiwanl, and ciptuiis the enemy's picket-lines in his 
front. All elVorts of the enemy to recapture them are una- 
vailin,i,'. 

President Lincoln is a spectator of the gallant recapture of 
Steadman. He had been jiromiscd a review : he was treated 
to a successful battle, which ho declared to be better. But 
he does not lose his re^^ew. Before going into action, Craw- 
ford's division marches past, saluting ; and the President and 
the ladies of his party behold, with mingh'd emotions, the 
steady nnirch of the veterans who arc just jjlunging into the 
battle with A^'ri.t,'llt. Although the enemy resisted our attack 
thenceforward until nightfall, we had gained much. Our 
losses were about twenty-five hundi-ed ; his not less than 
five thousand. 

Sherman's visit. 

Wliile Sherman's army was occupying a few days in resting 
and receiving supplies, in its camp at Goldsboro', that otlicer 
made a hurried visit to Grant at City Point, on the 27th of 
]\rarch. The lieutenant-general, the President, Generals 
Meade and Sheridan, and other oflicers, met him in confer- 
ence. Shernmn said he could move, as early as April 10th, 
upon Johnston, with twenty days' .supplies. If Grant desired 
him to aid tlu> movement upon Eichmond, he would advance, 
threaten Pvaleigh, and strike^ the Danville road at a jioint near 
Burkesville, thus bnaking Lee's communications, and cutting 
oiT his retreat ; or he was ready to march directly to Kich- 
monil. and strengthen Grant's final attack. Grant commu- 



432 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

nicated liis own plans, which were to huiTj matters bj moving 
on the 29th of March. If his attack should be unsuccessful, 
he would mass his cavalry to destroy the communications 
between Lee and Johnston, so that, instead of joining their 
forces, they might be beaten in detail. Sherman at once re- 
turned to Goldsboro', to move against Johnston. 

Grant's anxiety was now extreme, lest at the last moment 
Lee should escape him, and, by a happy union with Johnston, 
inaugurate a new, long, and difficult campaign. The great 
number of deserters daily coming into our lines, led him to 
beheve that Lee was contemplating an escape. 

Spending a few days in reviewing the various divisions, he 
sent his sick and the sutlers to City Point ; waited impatiently 
for an attack from Lee, which he thought would be the signal 
for his liegu'a, and then moved the army out in observation 
and readiness to manoeu^Te as a unit ; sent his cavalry out to 
cut the rebel communications, and to remain in front ready 
for pursuit ; and determined, if it were in human possibility, 
to finish up the whole matter. 





5^?C 



/Y< 






TIIK TUIK -BI'XlINNlNa oK TlIK KND." i'.VA 



CHATTER XL. 

THE TRUE "BEQINNING OF THE END." 

FioiiT AT DiNwinniE CorRTicousE.— Hattle of Five Foiiks.— Defeat of thk reb- 
els.— Coxstkknation IN Richmond.— Its evacuation by Lee.— PrKsciT of tub 
fleeing aumv.— Sailor's Ckekk— Lee's scrrenuek.— Terms.- Suerman.- 
Stonevan.— Canuv AT Mobile. — NVilson's command. — Conclcsion. 

It was now the early morning of the 29th of Marcli. lu 
accoriliince with instruetions, Ord had moved out with two 
divisions of the TwL-uty-fourth Corps, under Gibbon, and one 
of the Twenty-fifth, under Bimey, and McKenzie's cavaby, 
on the night of the Twenty-seventh, and at dawn of the 20th 
they were at Hatcliers Rim. 

On the 28th, Sheridan had received the follo-n-ing instruc- 
tions : 

City 1'oint, Va., March 28. 1965. 
GenkraI/— The Fifth Amiy Corps will move by the Vaughan road at three 
.K. M. to-morrow morning. The Second moves at about nine A. M., liaving bat 
alxnit three miles to march to reach the first jwint d.-signated for it to take on 
the riglit of the Fifth Coqis, after the latter reaching Dinwiddi.- Cuurthouse. 
Move your cavalry at as early an hour a8 you ain. and without bting confined 
to any particular road or roads. You may gt> out by the nearest roads in rear 
of the Fifth Corps, pasB by its left, and passing near to or through Dinwiddie, 
reach the riglit and rear of the enemy as soon as you can. It is not the inten- 
tion to attack th«- enemy in Ids intn-nclu-d ]K)sition. but to force him out if 
jxissible. Should he ctime out and attack us, or get himself wliere he can be 
attacked, iiiuv.- in with your entire f'-rce in your own way, and with the full 
n-liance that the army will engage or follow as circumstances will dictate. I 
>hall be on the field, and will ].robably Ix- able to communicate with you. 
Sliould I not do so, and you find that the enemy keeps within his main in- 
trenched line, you may cut loose and push for the Danville road. If you find 

2« 



434 



GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 



it practicable, I would like you to cross the Southside road, between Petersburg 
and Burktsville, and destroy it to some extent. I would not advise much de- 
tention, however, until you reach the Danville road, which I would like you to 
strike as near to the Appomattox as possible. Make your destruction on that 
road as complete as possible. You can then pass on to the Southside road, west 
of Burkesville, and destroy that in like manner. 

After having accomplished the destruction of the two railroads, which are 
now the only avenues of supply to Lee's army, you may return to this army, 
selecting your road further south : or you may go on into North Carolina, and 
join General Sherman. Should you select the latter course, get the information 
to me as early as possible, so that I may send orders to meet you at Goldsboro'. 

U. S. Grajs'T, Lieutenant-General. 
Majob-Geneeal p. II. Sheridan. 

Sheridan's command, at tlie start, comprised five thousand 
seven hundred cavahy under Merritt, and three thousand 
three hundred under Crook ; in all nine thousand. With 
these he moved across by way of Beams' Station and 
Malon's crossing of Rowanty Creek — where he built a 
bridge — to Dmwiddie Courthouse, on his way to cut the 
enemj-'s communication ; but ah-eady fully determined, if per- 
mitted, to find the long-sought flank of the enemy, crush it, 
and then push on and cut ofi" Lee's retreat. 




He was at Dinwiddle Courthouse on the afternoon of the 
29th at five o'clock. Custer had been left at Malon's crossing 
to protect the trains. Our hues were then arranged thus : 
Slieridan on the extreme left, and our infantry, under WaiTon, 
extended to the Quaker road, near its intersection with the 



THE TRUE "BEOINNTNO OK THE END" 



435 




BATTLE-FIELD OP DINWIDDrE COCRTIIOCSE. 



436 GRANT AND mS CAMPAIGNS. 

Boydton road ; next, on the right, was Humphreys ; next, Ord 
and Wright ; while Parke held the works in front of Petersburg. 
In this position, Grant was almost certain that the time had 
come for capturing Richmond, and, what was of far more im- 
portance, defeating Lee and forcing him to a surrender. To 
this end, he sent Sheridan the following important and signifi- 
cant dispatch : 

Gravelly Run, March 29, 1865. 

General — Our line is now unbroken from the Appomattox to Dinwiddie. 
We are all ready, however, to give up all from the Jerusalem plankroad to 
Hatcher's Run, whenever the forces can be iLsed advantageously. After getting 
into line south of Hatcher's, we pushed forward to find the enemy's position. 
General Griffin was attacked near where the Quaker road intersects the Boyd- 
ton road, but repulsed it easily, capturing about one himdred men. Hum- 
phreys reached Dabneys mill, and was pushing on when last heard from. 

I now feel like ending the matter, if it is possible to do so, before going back. 
I do not want you, therefore, to cut loose and go after the enemy's roads at 
present. In the morning, push round the enemy if you can, and get on to his 
right rear. The movements of the enemy's cavalry may, of course, modify 
your action. We will act all together as one army here, until it is seen what 
cun be done with the enemy. The signal-officer at Cobb's Hill reported, 
at 11 :30 A. .M., that a cavalry column had passed that point from Richmond 
towards Petersburg, taking forty minutes to pass. 

U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-Qeneral. 

Majok-Gener.\l p. II. Sheridan. 

Grant, it wiU be seen, was at Gravelly Run in person, closely 
watching the developments of the situation. During the 30th 
a hea^'}' storm of rain rendered the roads so bad that Sheridan 
found it very difficult to move fi'om Dinwiddie ; nothing on 
wheels could get forward, except on corduroyed roads. But 
the cavalry can flounder on, and so he starts on the 30th for 
Five Forks, on the White Oak road, where ho know the onomy 
was in force : while Warren is ilirected to extend liis lines 
across the Boydton road to the White Oak road, to cross 
the latter if possible, and in any event to hold it and fortify. 

With an impetuosity that cannot be resisted, Sheridan 
seizes the Five Forks, and fights a battle there ; but the enemy 
making head against Warron, who has moved to obey his 
instructions, diives back the Fifth Corps, division after division, 



TIIK TRrE " BEGINNING OF TlIK END." 



437 




BATTLE OF FIVE FOKKS. 



438 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

and then turns in force upon Sheridan, who is slowly driven 
back to Dinwiddie Courthouse. In the mean time, Hum- 
phreys di-ives the enemy back in his front, into his main line 
near Burgess's mill, while Ord and Wright, reporting the 
enemy weak before them, are impatient to move forward. In 
this conjuncture. Grant re-enforces Sheridan with the Fifth 
Corps — because it is the nearest — which he placed under his 
command ; and thus strengthened, Sheridan again moves 
forward, while the other corps assault in their fi'ont. 

As the attack on Fort Steadman had enabled our troops in 
their riposte to get very close to the enemy's lines, the task 
was not difficult. But we are anticipating. 

Li this forced movement to the rear against overpowering 
numbers of the enemy. General Sheridan, in the opinion of 
Grant, displayed great generalship. He did not retreat on 
the main army, " to tell the story of superior forces encoun- 
tered, but he dismounted his cavalry and deployed, which 
forced the enemy to do the same, and thus checked his 
progTess." "When Grant was informed of this, he sent 
McKenzie's division of cavahy, with one division of the Fifth 
Coi-ps to his assistance ; and soon after, as Meade had 
informed him that Humphreys could hold the Boydtou road, 
the other division of the Fifth was sent to Sheridan, and that 
officer assumed the command of the whole coi*ps. This was 
on the 1st of April. In front of Dinwiddie, Sheridan now 
assaulted, and fought a successful battle, di-ove the enemy 
back, and made a second advance on Five Forks, which the 
enemy now held in great force. Here Sheridan executed a 
beautiful tactical manoeuvre. "VMiile the enemy were pressed 
within their works, he directed General Merritt to demon- 
strate, as though he would tuiii the enemy's right tiank, 
while the Fiftli Corps was ordered up to strike their left tlank 
vigorously. Tlie Fifth Corps, General Sheridan thought, was 
moving too slowly, and for this he censiu'ed Warren ; but at 
last it was in readiness, — Ayres' division on the left in double 
lines, Crawford on the right, and Griffin in reserve, behind 
Crawford. We quote Sheridan's words : 



TIIK TIU'E "nKUINNIXG OF THE KNO." 139 

"I tlicn dinrttd (ii-in'ral Merritt to diTiioiistrntc n.s th()uj;li h*' was nttciiipU 
ing to turn tlii' fnfin\ 'k rij^lit flunk, and notitiiid liini that tin* Fifth ("orpH 
would striko lh»' cnonivB loft (lank, and onUnd that tin- cavalry shoidil assault 
the enemy's works as soon as the Fifth Corps Uranic ongagtd, and that would 
be doteriniucd by the volleys of musketry. I then rode over to whenj the P'ifth 
Corps was poing into po8itif>n, and found them coming up very slowly. I woa 
exceedingly anxious to attack at once, for the sun was getting low, and wo hod 
to tight or go back. It was no place to intrench, and it would have l)ccn shame- 
ful to have gone bark with no results to cumiMii.sate for the loss of the brave 
men who had fallen during the day. In this connection. I will say that (Jen- 
eral Warren did not exert himself to get up his corj* as ra])idly as ho might 
have done ; and his manner gave me the impression that he wished the sun to 
go down b«'fore dispositions for the attack could be comjjleted. As soon as llio 
corps was in position, I ordered an advance in the following formation : Ayres' 
division on the left, in double lines ; Crawford's division on the right, in double 
lines ; and (JrilViu's division in resi-rve, behind Crawford : and the White Oak 
road was reachetl without opposition. McKenzie was ordered to swing round 
on the right of the infantry, and get j^ssession of the ford at the crossing of 
Hatcher's II un." 

The Fifth Corps advanced gallantly with a left half- wheel, 
and went into and beyond the enemy's works, routing him and 
pursuing ; while Memtt, whose signal was to be the firing of 
the Fifth, assaulted and carried the enemy's right, putting him 
to flight in that quarter. In General Sheridan's flashing words : 

" The enemy were driven from their strong line of works, and completely 
routed ; the Fifth Corps doubling up their left flank in confusion, and the cav- 
alry of General Merritt dashing on to the Wliite Oak road, capturing their 
artillery and turning it ujKjn them, and riding into their broken ranks sf> do- 
moralizi'd them, that they made no serious stand after their line was carried, 
but took to flight in disorder." 

Between five thousand and six thousand prisoners fell into 
our hands, and the fugitives were driven westward, and were 
pursued till long after dark by Merritt's and ^IcKenzie'g 
cavalry, for a distance of six miles. 

During this attach, Sheridan was again dissatistitd with 
Warrt>n ; and having already received, unsolicited, jierniission 
from the lieut«'nant-general, he relieved AVarren of his com- 
mand, and turned it over to Griflin, not the ranking oflficer, 
but selected for the purpose. 



440 GRANT AND HIS CAIMPAIGNS. 

Grant, still fearful that the audacious advance of Sheridan 
might be overpowered, sent him during the night Miles' di^-i- 
sion of the Second Corps, which reported at dayhght on the 
2d. It was at once ordered to move up the TMiite Oak road 
towards Petersburg, and attack the enemy at the intersection 
of that road with the Claiborne road. Miles was followed by 
two divisions of the Fifth. He attacked handsomely, and 
forced the enemy back ; but was soon reclaimed by Hum- 
phreys, and relinquished, gi-eatly to Sheridan's regret. 

Let us look a Httle further to our right. A heavy bombard- 
ment had been kept up all night of April 1 along our whole 
line ; and at four o'clock on the morning of the 2d a combined 
assault was made, with grand success. "Wright, with the 
Sixth, swej)t every tiling in his front, fi-om his left at Hatch- 
er's Run towards Petersburg, taking many guns and prisoners. 
Ord, joining him on the right, was equally successful ; and 
then the two combined swung round by a right wheel and for- 
ward, and closed upon Petersburg to the river, tearing up the 
Southside Eailroad. 

Parke, holding in front of Petersburg, assaulted, taking the 
main line with its guns, but not the innermost line. Gibbon, 
■with a part of Ord's command, captured two strong works, 
" the most salient and commanding points south of Peters- 
bm'g." The rebel lines around the city were thus very much 
shortened, and if a new assault should be thought necessary, 
the capture woidd not be difficult. 

When Miles made his attack under Slieridan's orders he 
had pushed the enemy across the mu, and followed him up to 
Sutherland's Depot, on the Southside road ; and it will be 
remembered that two divisions of the Fifth Corps had followed 
the movement. After a hard fight, in which the rebels were 
driven l)y Meade on our right and Sheridan on our loft, they 
broke at that point in gi-eat confusion, streaming westward 
by the main road along the Appomattox. 

The niglit of the 2d of April was one of consternation and 
terror in llichmond. The people had been hilled by the long 
years of secui-ity, and deceived by their leaders. No intelli- 



THE TRTE •nE<";iNNINn oF THE END." j jl 

gent nuin iloubtinl t\w rosult, but tho hoodwinked po])ul;ic'o 
still bolicvi'd tlint Kicliinond was inT])r<*'^ml)lo, and woulil 
never be evacniitrd. Their eyes were now suddenly opened. 
Without warning,', it was nowannoiinc(Ml, while JetV. Davis was 
in chun-h, for it was Sunday, that the army was evaeiniting 
the eity, and that the " Federals" would enter at once. Lee, 
who had long before seen the folly of continuing the struggle, 
had been overruled by Jeff. Davis; but now there was no 
choice. The army loft that night, in frantic haste to mov(> by 
the Danville road, and form a junction with Johnston, liut 
it was too late. 

Sheridan pursued ^'igorously on the '.kl, striking at once for 
the Danville road, to cut him oflF. Meade, with the Second and 
Sixth corps, followed him l^y a forced march ; Ord was dis- 
patched to Burkesville, moving along the Southside road ; the 
Ninth Corps stretched out, holding the main points in rear. 

Although so much had been achieved, there was still to be 
a race with tho rebels — a race for life. Lee must not escape. 
On tho 4th of April, Sheridan struck the Danville road at Jet- 
ters\'ille, right athwart the track of Lee, who had only reached 
Amelia Courthouse. The rebel army was in no condition to 
prolong tho contiict ; it could only now drift hopelessly west- 
ward, and ])ut off for a few hours the evil day. 

At Jettersville, Sheridan intrenched, and waited for Meade, 
who came up the next day, the 5th. On the afternoon of that 
day, Ord was at Burkesville ; and Grant, who had reached 
Wilson's Station, addressed the following letter to Sherman : 

Wiuson's .'^TATIo^•, April 5, l'<6.'>. 

Qexf.rm, — All indirationa now nre that I^-o will attcmj)! to rt'nch Danville 
with tho rt'innant of his fone. Shcriilaii, who wa.s up with him last night, 
rcfxirts all that is h-ft — hnrs*-. foot, and dragcxins — at twenty thousand, much 
demoralized. We hojie to nnluce this number one-half. I shall push on to 
Burkesville, and if a stand is made at Danville, will in a few days go there. If 
you can jH)S8ibly do so, i)U8li on from where you are, and let us see if we cannot 
finish the job with Ixje's and Johnston's armies. Whether it will be b«»ttor for 
you to strike for Greensboro', or nearer to Danville, you will be Ixjtter able to 
judge wh<n you receive this. Rebel armies now are the only strategic points 
to strike at. . 

U. S. (}r.\nt, Lieutenant-Qeneral. 

Major-Ueneral W. T. Sherman. 



442 GRANT AND HIS CA5rPAIGNS. 

But such a junction was not to be necessary. If unmo- 
lested, Lee could hardly have taken that army to Johnston. 

On the 6th of April, Lee moved "westward, as if towards 
Danville ; and Sheridan, relinquishing the command of the 
Fifth Corps, and returning it to Meade, moved rapidly with 
his cavalry, followed by the Sixth Corps, to strike his iiauk. 
The Sixth Coi-ps, although not detached fi'om the Army of the 
Potomac, was temporarily under his orders. The Second and 
Fifth followed after. Ord moved to Farmville, on the Lynch- 
burg road, and sent his cavaky, with two regiments of infantry, 
to destroy the bridges. This little advanced force encoun- 
tered the head of Lee's army, which sti'uck it a staggering 
blow ; but with a fine soldierly vision, General Theodore 
Kead, who was in command, fought this overwhelming force 
most heroicall}-, detained it in his front until Ord could come 
up, and fell a martyr to his zeal. 

sailor's creek. 

On the afternoon of the Gth, Sheridan struck a force of the 
enemy just south of Sailor's Creek, a small southern tributary 
of the Appomattox, and a battle ensued, in which he cap- 
tured sixteen guns and four himdred wagons, and kept the 
enemy employed until the arrival of the Sixth Coi-ps, which, 
we have seen, was marching in his rear. A combmed attack 
was then made, which resulted in the capture of between six 
and seven thousand prisoners, and a large number of general 
othcers. The disintegi-ating process was rapidly going on. 
In this battle, the Second Corps and Twenty -fourth partici- 
pated. The army was now a grand moving machine, elastic, 
but exact. The corps, well in hand, were skilfully moved as 
the exigencies of the field required. 

On the morning of the 7tli the pursuit was still continued — 
the cavalry, under Sheridan, less one division, moving with 
the Fifth Coi-ps through Prince Edward's Courthouse ; the 
Sixth Corps, the Twenty-fourth, and one division of cavalry, 
upon Farmville. The Second Corps moved by High Bridge. 



TIIK TIIUH "BE(iIXXINi; OF THE END." -143 

The enemy wore now nil north of tht; Ajiponuittox ; hut so 
close WHS the pursuit, that the Second Corps seized Hi^'h 
Bridge before the enemy could destroy it, and crossed ut their 
heels. The Sixth, with the cavalry division, crossed at Farm- 
ville. The hunt was nearly ended. Lee was now not only 
hopeless, but Ciraut bclitned that he had d«'t('rniincd to sur- 
render. To this end, the following correspondence ensued 
between them. Grant writes from Farmville : 

April 7, 1S65. 
QKXERAiy — Till' result of the last week must convince you of the hopeleas- 
ness of further resistance, on the part of the .\rniy of Northern Virj^inia, in this 
8tru<r<,'le. I feel that it is so, and rr^'ard it a.s my duty to shift fmm myself the 
responsihility of any further efiFusion of bloo<l, byaskin/j of you the surrenderor 
that portion of the Confederate States army known as tlie Army of Northern 

Virginia. 

U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-Qeneral. 
Geneual U. E. Le«. 

Early on the morning; of the 8th, before leaving. Grant 
received at Farmville the following : 

April?, 1«65. 
General — T have received your note of this date. Though not entertain- 
ing the opinion you express on the hopelessness of further resistance on the 
part of the Army of Northern Virginia, I reciprocate ydur desire to avoid use- 
less effusion of blood, and therefore, before considering your proposition, ask 
the terms you will offer on condition of its surrender. 

R. E. Lee, GeneraL 

LlErTEXAST-(!ENERAL U. S. GrANT. 

To this. Grant immediately replied : 

April «, l«t55. 
General — Your note of last evening, in reply to mine of same date, asking 
the condition, on which I will accejit the surrender of the Army of Northern 
Virginia, is just receivt^l. In reply, I would say, that ptuce being my great 
desire, there is but one condition I would insist upon — namely, that the men and 
oflBcers surrendered shall be (iisqualifnd for taking up arm.s again against the 
Government of the United States until i)rop«'rly exchangt'd. I will meet you, 
or will designate officers to meet any officers you may name for the same pur- 
pose, at any point agreeable to yoQ, for the puqwise of arranging definit<'ly the 
terms ui>on which the surrender of the .\rmy of Northern Virginia will bo 

receivi-d. 

U. S. Grant, Lieutenan^GencraL 
General R. E. Lek. 



444 GRANT AND fflS CAMPAIGNS. 

On the morning of the 8th, as nothing was yet decided, 
Grant renewed the pursuit ; the enemy pushing as fast as he 
could for Appomattox Station, and our troops moving upon 
him with equal footsteps. Meade's army was now north of 
the Appomattox, pushing the rear-guard, but never able to 
bring it to a decisive engagement. On the afternoon of the 
8th, Sheridan strikes the raikoad at Appomattox, and drives 
the enemy before him, capturing twenty-five guns, a hospital- 
train, and foui' trains of cars with supj^hes. Grant joins 
Meade at noon of the 8th, and receives the following letter : 

April «, 1865. 
General — I received, at a late hour, your note of to-day. In mine of yester- 
day, I did not intend to prop)se the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, 
but to ask the terms of your proposition. To be frank, I do not think the emer- 
gency has arisen to call for the surrender of this army ; but as the restoration of 
peace should be the sole object of all, I desired to know whether your proposals 
would lead to that end. I cannot, therefore, meet you vdlh a view to surrender 
the Army of Northern Virginia ; but as far as your proposal may affect the 
Confederate State forces under my command, and tend to the restoration of 
peace, I should be i)leased to meet you at 10 A. M. to-morrow on the old stage 
road to Richmond, between the picket-lines of the two armies. 

R. E. Lee. General. 
Lieutknaxt-Gexeral U. S. Grant. 

To which he answers as follows : 

April 9, 1865. 

Genek^vl — Your note of yesterday is received. I have no authority to treat 

on the subject of peace ; the meeting proposed for 10 A. M. to-tlay. could lead to 

no good. I will state, however, general, that I am equally anxious for peace 

with yourself, and the whole North entertains the same feeling. The terms 

upon which peace can be had are well understood. By the South laying down 

their arms they will hasten that most desirable event, save thousands of 

human lives, and hundreds of millions of property not yet destroyed. Sincerely 

hoping that all our dilEcultiis may be settled without the loss of another life, 

I subscribe myself, etc. 

U. S. Guant, Lieutenant^GeneraL 
General R. E. Lee. 

On the 9th, Ord comes iip to Appomattox, and with him the 
Fifth Corps, just as the enemy is making a desperate efibrt to 
break through the cavalry, and defeat it. This is the end : 
the last ditch is reached. A white flag comes into the lines, 



Till-: Tia'E ■BECiLNNING OF TIIK END." 



445 




ArrOiL^TTOX COUUTUOLSE— TUE 8CIUUi:>'DER. 



446 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

asking for a suspension of hostilities in order to arrange terms 
for surrender. This Grant received while going to join Sher- 
idan. It was in the following terms : 

April 9, 1865. 
Qekeral — I received your note of this morning, on the picket-line, whither 
I had come to meet you, and ascertain definitely what terms were embraced in 
your proposal of yesterday, with reference to the surrender of this army. I now 
ask an interview in accordance with the ofiFer contained in your letter of yester- 
day, for that purpose. 

li. E. Lee, General. 
Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant. 

Tlie interview took place at the residence of Mr. W. 
McLean, at Appomattox Courthouse. It was brief, but con- 
clusive. Sad in the extreme to the Confederate general, who 
having risked every thing, had lost all. 

No pen can describe the exultation of our troops. 

The following view from a rebel standpoint is presented by 
an eye-witness from the rebel side : 

" There is no passage of history in this heart-breaking war which will, for years 
to com>'. be more honorably mentioned, and gratefully remembered than the 
demeanor, on the 9th of April, 1865, of General Grant- towards General Lee. 1 
do not so much allude to the facility with wliicli honorable terms were accord- 
ed to the Confederates, as to the bearing of General Grant, and the oflBcers 
about him, towards General Lee. The interview was brief. Three commis- 
sioners upon either side were immediately appointed. The agreement to which 
these six commissioners acceded is known. 

" In the mean time, immediately that General Lee was seen riding to the rear, 
dressed more gayly than usual, and begirt with his sword, the rumor of imme- 
diate surrender flew likt? wildfire through the Confederates. It might be im- 
agined that an army, which had drawn its last regular rations on the 1st of 
April, and, harassed incessantly by night and day, had been marching and 
fighting until the morning of the 9th, would have welcomed any thing like a 
termination of its sufferings, let it come in what form it might. Let those who 
idly imagine that the finer feelings are the prerogative of what are called the 
' upi)er classes,' learn from this and similar scenes to appreciate ' common 
men.' As the great Confederate captain rode back from his interview with 
General Grant, the news of the surrender acquired shapi' and cont;isteucy, and 
could ni) longer be denied. The effect on the worn and battered troops — some 
of whom had fought since Ajiril, 18C1, and (sparse surWvors of hecatombs of 
fallen comrades) had passed unscathed through such hurricanes of shot, as 
within four years no other men had ever experienced — passes mortal description. 



THE TRUF, "BEfilTs'NING OF THE END." 447 

" Whole lines of Imttle rushetl up to tluir Ixlovcd old chief, and rhokinp with 
emotion, broke ranks iiml struppled with each other tn wrinp him onre more 
by the hand. Men who hnd foufxht tlirou^hnut the wnr, and knew what the 
apony and humiliation of that moment must l>e to him, Htnne, with a refine- 
ment of unselfishnefH and tendernt-Ks which lie alone could fully ap|>rr<inte, to 
lighten his burden and miti>rate his pain. With tears pourinp down both 
cluH>ks. General Lee at length commamled voice enough to pay, ' Men, wo liave 
fought through the war together. I have done the best that I could for yon.' 
Not an eye that looked on that scene was dry. Nor was this the emotion of 
sickly sentimentalists, but of rough and rugged men, familiar with hardships, 
danger, and death in a thousand shapes, mastered by sj-mpathy and feeling for 
another which they never experienced on their own account. I know of no 
other jiassage of military history so touching, unless, in spite of the melo-dra- 
matic coloring which French historians have loved to shed over the scene, it can 
be foimd in the Adieu de Fontainebleau. 

" It remains for me briefly to notice the last parade of an army, whereof the 
exploits will be read with pride so long as the English tongue is spoken. In 
pursuance of an arrangement of the six commissioners, the Confederate army 
marched by divisions, on the morning of April the V2th, to a spot at the 
Api>omattox Courthouse, where they stacked arms and deposited accoutre- 
ments. I'pon this solenm occasion Maj<ir-General Gibbon represented the 
United States authorities. With the same exalted and conspicuous delicacy 
which he had exhibited throughout the closing scenes, General Grant was not 
again visible after his final interview with General Lee. About seven thousand 
eight hundred Confederates marched with their muskets in their hands, and 
were followed by alKJUt eighteen thousand unarmed stragglers, who claimed to 
be included in the capitulation. Each Confederate soldier was furnished with 
printed form of parole, which wa-s filled up for him by his own officers, and a 
dujilicate handed to a designated Ftderal officer. By the evening of the 12th 
the jiaroles were generally distributed, and the disbanded men began to scatter 
through the country. Hardly one of them had a farthing of money. Some of 
them had from fifteen hundred to two thousand miles to travel, over a country 
of which the scanty railroads were utterly annihilated." 



The correspondence gives the exact terms. 

Appomattox Coiuthocse, Va., April 9, 1865. 
Gen"I:31AI. — In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the 8th 
instant, I pro]>o6e to receive the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia on 
the following terms — lo wit : KoUs of all the officers and men to be made in 
duplicate, one copy to be given to an officer to be de^ignatinl by me, the other 
to be retained by such officer or officers as you may designate. The officers to 
give their individual paroles not to take up arms against the Qovemmenl of 
the rnit»Hl States until properly exchange*! ; and each company or regimental 
commander t<j sign a like parole for the men of their commands. The uruvs. 



448 GRA>,'T ^V^■D HIS CAilPAIGNS. 

artillery, and public proiwrty to be packed and stacked, and turned over to the 

oflBcers apixjinted by me to receive them. This will not embrace the side-arms 

of the officers, nor their private horses or baggage. Tliis done, each officer 

and man will be allowed to return to his home, not to be disturbed by United 

States authority so long as they observe their paroles, and the laws in force 

where they may reside. 

U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-Qeneral. 
Gexebal 11. £. LcE. 

Headqcabtkrs Abmt Nobthekh VmonriA, 

April 9, 1865. 

Gexeeax — I have received your letter of this date, containing the terms of 
surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia as i)roposed by you. As they are 
substantially tlie same as those expressed in your letter of the 8th instant, they 
are accepted. I will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the stipu- 
lations into effect. 

R. E. Lee, General. 

Liectexaxt-Geneeal U. S. Geaxt. 

Gibbon's commaud, with the Fifth Coi-ps under Griffin, and 
McKenzie's cavahry, were ordered to remain at Appomattox, 
while the process of paroHng was going on, and to take 
charge of the pubhc property. Grant immediately set the 
remainder of the army in motion for BiirkesAille. The great 
event had been achieved. Lee, the gi-eatest man as well as 
the ranking soldier in the Confederacy, had given up the 
cause, and his influence broke up the rebellion. Grant, after 
wear}- months, or rather a long year, of the most arduous 
and responsible military labor ever performed by a general, 
had seen the issue of all his plans, desires, and hopes in a 
complete success. The country again ning with his name. 
The few bitter and cold men who were dissatisfied Avitli the 
terms he accorded to Lee, spoke only in whispers. He had 
not been in theii* pay or service, he had acted for the Union, 
and the cause of humanit}-. And it must have given his 
heart a glow of pleasure, that he could put one di'op of com- 
fort into the bitter cup, now drained to the di-egs by an an- 
tagonist so skilful, and a rebel so brave, cliivalrous, and noble 
as General R. E. Lee. 

Let us not be misunderstood : there is no casuistry which 
can metamoi*phose treason ; but the rebel cliiefs will always be 
regarded as brave, self-sacrificing soldiers, and brilliant gen- 



< ~ 


3J 


5 "^ O 






n 
> 


'iji^ 




?-J= ^o 


X >. 


■* ** i- ^ 






O r 

o ; 
z < 

n 5 


■v r .-v. m 


o "> 


" s^ ^"3 


3 • 


^ $ • </> 


> 


i $ y DO 


-H 


<; - r c 


n 


I " :c 


> 


$ - o 


3) 


5 Z. 


2 




TIIK Ti:rE UIXilNMNU OF THE END" .j.jO 

erals, by every military scholar ; and they are held iu greatt-.r 
respect, we venture to say, by none more fully than by their 
chief conqueror, Lieutenant-CltMicral Ulysses S. Grant. 

SllKIlMAN. 

But little remains to be told. 

U])on the r('ccii)t of Grant's letter, which wo have presented 
in a form* r ])a^e, Sherman moved at once upon Johnston, 
who retreated ra]>idly before him throui^di lialei^h, wliich 
Sherman entered on the liJth. On the 12th he had received 
the news of Lee's surrender. This gave Johnston a hint upon 
which to speak. On the 14th a correspondence was opened 
between Johnston and Sherman, and there was a suspension 
of hostilities until the memorandum of the agi'eement could 
be submitted to the President for his approval. On that very 
day, the humane, hard-working, honest, and honored Mr. 
Lincoln was killed by an assassin, and Sherman's memoran- 
dum fell into critical hands, which treated it and him with 
undeserved severity. 

The subject is now too well known in all its bearings to 
need discussion here. Grant went down to Raleigh, which ho 
reached on the 2-ith of April, with disapproval and new in- 
structions, and the tiiice was terminated the same day. But 
there was to be no more fighting. On the 25th there was 
another meeting between Sherman and Johnston, which re- 
sulted in a surrender of the rebel army on the same terms 
which Grant had accorded to Lee. This surrender was re- 
ceived by Sherman. 

We must not close without mentioning the rapid operations 
in other parts of the field, which now hurried events to a 
finality. 

STONEMAN. 

Stoneman started on the 20th of March, by way of Boone, 
in North CaroUna ; struck the railroad at Wytheville, Cham- 
bersburg, and Big Lick ; and sent one column to approach 
Lynchburg and destroy the bridges. The main body de- 

29 



450 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

ployed between New Kiver and Big Lick, then to Greensboro", 
breaking up and burning the bridges between Greensboro' and 
Danville, and also those between Greensboro' and the Yadkin, 
\nth many rich depots of supplies. At Salisbm-j he beat the 
rebel General Gardner, taking from him fourteen guns and 
one thousand three hundred and sixty-four prisoners ; and after 
tearing up fifteen miles of raihoad, with the bridges towards 
Charlotte, he returned to Slatersville. 

Sherman desired that Stoneman should join him, but acting 
in accordance with the orders received fr'om Thomas, and 
according to a discretion which he deemed his right, he 
did not. 

CANBY AT MOBILE. 

The movements upon Mobile will only need to be epitomized. 
On the 20th of March, the Sixteenth Corps, under A. J. 
Smith, was moved by water from Fort Gaines to Fish Eiver ; 
and the Thii'teenth, imder Gordon Granger, fr-om Fort Mor- 
gan, joined Smith. These combined troops invested Spanish 
Fort, opposite Mobile, near the eastern shore of Mobile Bay. 
On the 27th, Steele moves from Pensacola and invests Fort 
Blakely, on the Tensaw Eiver. On the 8th of April, Spanish 
Fort, after an attack by our troops, is evacuated. Fort 
Blakely is abandoned on the 9th. The enemy retire into 
Mobile. Alabama Eiver is thus opened, and the northern ap- 
proaches to Mobile. The city, no longer tenable, is evacuated 
by our troops on the 11th, and occupied by Canby's forces on 
the 12th. 

Wilson's command. 

The cavalry expedition, which Grant had directed Thomas 
to send out under General Wilson, started on the 22d of 
March, twelve thousand five hundred strong, from Chickasaw, 
Alabama, and achieved a series of successes. On the 1st of 
April, Wilson encountered Forrest nearEbenezer Chiu"eli, and 
beat him. On the 2d he captured Selma, a very inipcn'tant 
point, defended by Forrest with seven thousand men. There 



THE TRI'E '■ BEfilNNlNn OK THE END." 451 

ho took throe thousand jirisoners and thoronj^ldy destroyed 
the enemy's works and factories. On the 4th ho entered 
Tuscaloosa, and on tlie 10th marched upon Montj^omery, 
which he took on the 14th. At that point he divided his force, 
sendiii}^' one ])()rti()U to West Point, wlu>ro tht^y captured 
four ^uns and destroyed the raihciad works. The other 
column moved on Columbus, wliiili they took, (•a])turing also 
tifte«>n hundred prisoners, destroyed tlie factories, and taking 
fifty-two guns. On the 20th he received the siuTcnder of 
Macon fiom Howell Cobb ; and on the 11th of May a detach- 
ment of his force caught Jeflferson Davis, Avhilo ho was trying 
to escape in disguise. 

General Dick Taylor, at ^itronelle, Alabama, surrendered 
to Canby, May 4th, all the rebel forces east of the Mississippi, 
about twenty thousand in all, on terms substantially the same 
as tho.se accoriled by Grant to Lee. 

General Edmund Kirby Smith, notwithstanding these good 
examples, was for a time defiant ; but Grant sent Sheridan 
down to Texas to bring him to terms ; and, deeming it useless 
to hold out any longer, Smith left his aniiy to disband itself, 
while Buckner, assuming the command, sunt uhred the small 
body that remained on the 26th of May. 

We cannot better finish this chapter than by quoting the 
eloquent and tnithfiU tribute with Avhicli General Grant closes 
his masterly report. 

" It has been my fi)rtune to see the armies of both the West and Exist fight 
battles, and from what I have seen I know tliere is no diflTcrence in their tiglit- 
ing qualities. All that it was possible for men to do in battl'-, they have done. 
The Western armies commenced their battles in the Mississipjii Valli-y, and re- 
ceivifl the final surrender of the remnant of the prinei]ial army oppoeinl to them 
in North Carolina. The armies of the East commenci^l their battles on the 
river from which the Army of the Potomac derived its name, and received the 
final surrender of their old antagonist at Ap;K)niatfox ('ourthoii.se, Va. The 
splendid achievements of each havi- nationalizt-d our victories, removed all sec- 
tional jealou.-iii-s, of which we have unfortunately <xiK?rienc«l too much, and 
till" cau8<' of crimination and recrimination that might have followed had either 
seciion failtKl in its duty. All have a proud n cord, and all sections can well 
congratulate thems«lves and each other for having done their full share in re- 
storing the supremacy of law over every foot of territ«>ry l>elonging to the 



452 GRANT A^'D HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

United States. Let tbepi hope for perpetual peace and harmony with that 
enemy whose manhood, however mistaken the cause, drew forth such hercu- 
lean deeds of valor." 



CONCLUSION. 

We have reached the end of our task, which was to pre- 
sent a military biography of General Grant. He at once 
advised the reduction of the gi-eat armies, a work which, 
beginning on the day of Lee's surrender, has steadily pro- 
gressed, until we have now only the needed force for a q nasi 
peace establishment. Before this, however, in a vast and 
splendid jjageaut of two days' continuance, beginning on 
Tuesday, the 22d of May, the great armies of Meade and 
Sherman were reviewed by the President of the United States, 
the Secretary of War, and the Lieutenant-General, on Penn- 
sylvania Avenue, amid the most enthusiastic demonstrations 
of a concourse gathered from all parts of the Union. 

He narrowly — let us say providentially — escaped the fate of 
the honored and beloved President, ha^•ing at first designed 
to be at the theatre on the night of the 14th of April, but, 
guided by some good angel, he set out to the North instead. 

He has made toui's of pleasure and inspection to the West, 
to Canada, to the South ; and everywhere throngs press to 
see, and take the hand of the quiet, unpretending, sturdy 
man, who has saved his country, and won so glorious a fame. 
At West Point, the plain cadet of 1844 received in 1865 all 
the honors of his Alma Mater as the generalissimo of the 
gi'eat war. 

He was made a Doctor of Laws by Harvard and a 
number of other institutions. 

On the 7th of January, 1865, a number of the principal 
citizens of Philadelphia presented him Avith a handsome 
house, thoroughly furnished, in Chestnut-street, above 
Twentieth. To tell of his honors, and the gifts he has 
received, would fill a voliune such as this. Among the 
ovations which he received, there was none, perhaj^s, 
more grateful to him than that at his old home, Galena, 



THE TRT'E " BEaiNNINO OP THE END." -153 

lUinois, on the "JSth <.f Au«,nist, ISC,.",. -There were archen 
decorated with the l«»n«; seroll of his victori(!S, enthu- 
siastic i)huulits from his okl friends and frllow-citizens; 
and over the street where he lived and the sidewalk which he 
had cahunniated, was the motto : " Ct«>n(rid, the sidewalk is 
built." The fond thought whicli liad i)romi)ted such an 
expression of his ambition — to be Mayor of Galena, and 
build the sidewalk— thus treasured by liis old friends, would 
touch the heart of Grant, when " the apphiuse of listening 
senates" w^oidd have little power to move him. 

Earlv in December his constant friend, Mr. Washburne, of 
Illhiois, introduced into the House of Representatives a bill 
to make him a General. It would not only be a just tribute 
to him, but it would make right what is now wrong in our 
system, and relieve us from the absurdity of a Ueutcnant- 
general as commander-in-chief — heutenant to no one. 

Of General Grant's talents and character it is unnecessary 
to add a single word. Sagacious, brave, skilful, his strongest 
element, subsidizing all the rest, is that tenacity of puqjose, 
that iron will, which was the characteristic of Wellington, and 
which won the Waterloo of the Great EebeUion. 

Closely connected with this is his moral courage. He dares 
to do right, without respect of persons or opinions. His re- 
ports are full of clear criticisms of his generals. Courteous 
and kind, he never regards private feehngs where gi-eat public 
inti'rests are at stake. 

Joined to these qualities is a modesty which displays itself 
in an unostentatious demeanor, and in gi-eat reticence at all 
times. 

He is an admirable judge of men. In this he is like the 
great emperor. Grant's generals have been judiciously 
chosen, each for his specitic work — Sherman for Atlanta, 
Thomas for Nashville, Sheridan for the Shenandoah and Five 
Forks, Meade for the Army of the Potomac. And when they 
did well, no spice of envy ever kept him from rejoicing in their 
success, and awarding them the highest praise. Of Meado, 
whose position was sometimes a painful one, by reason of the 



454 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

overshadowing presence of the general-in-chief, he says, in 
speaking of his appointment as major-general : 

" General Meade was appointed at my solicitation, after a campaign the 
most protracted, and covering more severely contested battles, than any of 
wliich we have any account in history. 

" I have been with General Meade during the whole campaign, and not only 
made the recommendation upon a conviction that this recognitiun of his ser- 
vices was fully won, but that ho was eminently qualified for the command such 
rank would entitle him to. 

" General Meade is one of our truest men and ablest ofiBcers. He has been 
constantly with that army confronting the strongest, best appointed, and most 
confident army in the South. He, therefore, has not had the same opportunity 
of winning laurels so distinctly marked as has fallen to the lot of other gen- 
erals ; but I defy any man to name a commander who would do more than he 
has done with the same chances." 

Of Sherman he says, speaking of the battle of Pittsburg 
Landing: "To his individual efforts I am indebted for the 
success of that battle." His praises of Sheridan have been 
recorded in former pages. 

And these, be it remembered, are not the wholesale lauda- 
tions Avith which military reports are usually filled, but just 
judgments, conscientiously expressed. We may say of him 
as did Tacitus of Agricola : " A^ec Agricola vnquam per alios 
gesta avidus intercepit ; seu centurio, sen prce/edus, incorruptum 
facti testem hahehaf." 

An enemy to be dreaded, he was always courteous, kind, 
and humane to a conquered foe. 

A patriot of large heart, he has done more than any other 
man to save his country in its day of bitter peril. 

To say that he is the first soldier of the age, is but to ajv 
peal to the facts already narrated. Perhaps we accord a 
higher praise when we declare, without fiattery, that he is the 
most distinguished American of the regenerated Bepuhlic. Let 
him be cherished and honored accordingly. 






-c/(' ^^ ^ t -/ . 



%.'-/: /i-. y../: //^J ■/y/./^'/^/ 



THE LIEUTENAXT-UENEUALS MIMTAUV HOUSEHOLD. 455 



CHAPTEii XLl. 

THE UEUTEN^iNT-GENEILVL's MILITARY HOUSEHOLD. 

Okn-eral Kawlins, ohikf of staff. — CoLONKL BowKiu. — Gkxikal CoMarooK. — 
Colonel Babcock. — Colonel Portkk. — Colonel Hcdson. — Colonel Baueac. — 
CoLONKL I'akker.— Major Leet. — Captain Dunn. — General Williams.— Gkk- 
KRAL Webster — Colonel Laoow.— Colonel IIillykr.— Genkral McI'iierson. — 
Colonel IJowLfcY.— Colonel Kiooin.— Colonel Ihrie. — Major Prim e.— Colonel 
Duff. — General Wilson. — Captain Kosa.— General Dent.— Gknkral Ke.vt.— 
General Barnard. — Major Kuykendal. — Colonel Dickey. — Major Auuen- 
HiED. — GtNERAL Smith. — Major H. C. KoBiNnTE. — Captain D. E. Portkr. — 
Lieutenant 11. N. Towner. 

HowEMiR the biogi-aphcr may be detorrod by motives of 
delicacy from iiitnidiug iuto the domestic circle of the lieu- 
tenant-general, it is plainly a part of his duty to present to 
his readers the personality of those officers who suiTound him, 
and, by his o^^•n choice, constitute his mihtary household. 
The world is anxious to know the nature and characters of the 
men by wlioiii liis will is transmitted, and the details of his 
plans jn-e.sentcd daily to liis armies. To satisfy this demand, 
we present the following brief sketches of these officers. 

GENERAL JOHN A. R.VWLINS, CHIEF OF STAFF. 

Major-General John A. RawUus is the son of James D. and 
Louisa Kawlins. He was bom Febiiiary 13, 1881, in Jo- 
Daviess County, State of Illinois, and resided there imtil ho 
entered the service, in Se])tember, 18G1. His occui)atious, 
until November, 1854, were farming and burning charcoal. 
Three years of this time, principally fi-om the winter seasons, 
were devoted to acquiring an education — two years and four 
months of the three years in attending the neighborhood- 



456 r.R.VNT AND mS CAMPAIGNS 

school, and the remaining eight months at the Rock Eiver 
Seminary, at Mount Morris, Illinois. In November, 1854, he 
began the study of law in the office of J. P. Stevens, Esq., of 
Galena, Illinois, and was admitted to the bar of that State in 
October, 1855. He at once commenced the practice of his 
profession in copartnership with his law-instnictor, and con- 
tinued until August, 1856, when, by mutual agreement, the 
copartnership was dissolved, and the business retained and 
carried on by him. In September, 1858, he took into copart- 
nership in the practice David Sheean, Esq., which copartner- 
ship still existed when Eawlins entered the service. 

In politics he was a Democrat, and was active in the sup- 
port of the principles of that party, adhering to Mr. Douglas 
as their ox2)onent ; and was candidate for presidential elector 
from the Fii'st congressional district of that State, on the 
Douglas ticket, in 1860, and canvassed his district in its sup- 
port, holding joint discussions in each county with the Eepub- 
hcan candidate for presidential elector, Judge Allen C. Fuller. 
His party and personal friends awarded to him much credit 
for ability in these discussions. 

Having done, in his judgment, all that one in his position 
could to avert the war, when it did come, he had no doubt as 
to the duty of every American citizen to support his country 
and maintain in authority its constitutionally elected Execu- 
tive, even to the laying down of his life, if need be ; and with 
all his ability and influence, he sought to make this the gen- 
erally received \'iew of others, especially of his own party. 
On receipt of the news of the first Bull Run disaster, he 
commenced, in conjunction with John E. Smith (now brevet 
major-general of volunteers) and J. A. Maltby (now brigadier- 
general of volunteers), to raise the Forty-tifth or " Lead-mine 
Regiment," Illinois Infantry Volunteers ; when, in August, 
he received from General Grant, with whom he had been 
acquainted from the time of his settling in Galena (and for 
whose house in that place ho was the attorney), without hav- 
in.Lj sought it, the tender of a position on his stafi", which he 
ui-c«^pted. The dangerous illness of Mrs. Rawlins (who had 



THE T,TKrTHXANT(ir.N'Ki:AI/S MILITARY TTOrPKTIOI.D. .|.'7 

been lon^ a suftVrcr from C()nsnin])ti(>ii, luid was then at her 
father's, Mr. Hiram Smith, at (loshtii, N. Y. , called him East, 
wh(>ro ho romainod by her side until her dect'aae, Atij^ust 30. 
With tliis severe personal aftliction n^stiii^ upon him, ho made 
arran^enu^nts for the care of the three riiildn^n that she 
left — a son and two dau^^htors, the eldest of wiiom was in his 
fifth year — and joined General (Irant, on the loth of Septem- 
ber, at Cairo, Illinois, as his assistant adjutant-_,'eneral, with 
the rank of eaptain, having l)een appointed sueh the ']()th of 
the preoedinfj niontli ; and was witli him from that time, in all 
his battles, and eampaij^'ns, and military operations in the 
field, until the siUTender of the AiTuy of Northern Virginia at 
Appomattox Courthouse, Va., except about two months — from 
the 31st of July, 18(U, to the 1st of Oetol)er following — when 
he was absent for the treatment of a severe bronchial afiee- 
tion he had contracted in the service. He has since 'been 
with him in Washington. The relations between Grant and 
Rawlins, personally and officially, are, and have always been, 
of the most intimate, friendly, and confidential character. He 
was commissioned major and assistant adjutant-general, to 
rank fi'om the date of the surrender of Fort Donelson ; was 
assigned in orelers as assistant adjutant-general and chief of 
staff", with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, November 1, 1862 ; 
was appointed a brigadier-general of volunteers, to rank from 
August 11, 18(j3 ; brevetted major-general of volunteers, to 
rank from Febmary 24, 1865. March 3, 1865, he was ap- 
pointed chief of staff to the lieutt-nant-general commanding, 
with the rank of brigadier-general in the United States Army ; 
and he has since been brevetted major-general. United States 
Army, to rank from March 13, 1865. 

NoTK. — In onior to imlicato clearly the estimation in which Oenenvl Raw- 
liufi is held by ti.-neral Urant. w.- i.il.li-;)! tli.- s.U.iwing letters, which ctjuldnol 
be coached in strouger terms : 

IlkAUMLAHTKiUt I >k.|-ARTMK.NT OF TUB TeXXKMKX, 

Viekhbiirg, Mist*., .July 27, ISti.'J. 
BniOADiKn-d'KXEiiAL L. TiioMAS. Adjutaiit-Generdl of (he Army : 

Ufc-.NEUAi. — I wouhl n-siHTtfully recommend, for pallaat and meritorious 
services, and fur extreme titnesa for command corresponding to the increased 



458 GRANT AND fflS CAMPAIGNS. 

rank, the following promotions, to wit : Brigadier-General Greenville M. Dodge, 
Brigadier-General Al in P. Hovey, Brigadier-General John E. Smith, Brigadier- 
General W. S. Smith, to be major-generals of volunteers ; and Colonel Charles 
R. Wood, Seventy-sixth Ohio ; Colonel Alexander Chambers, Sixteenth Iowa ; 
Lieutenant-Colonel John A. Rawlins, assistant adjutant-general ; Colonel Giles 

A. Smith, Eighth Missouri ; Colonel Jolm M. Corse, Sixth Iowa ; Colonel John 

B. Sanborn, Fourth Minnesota ; Colonel W. Q. Gresham, Fifty-third Indiana ; 
Colonel M. F. Force, Twentieth Ohio; Colonel T. Kilby Smith, Fifty-fourth 
Ohio, to be brigadier-generals of volunteers. These officers has-e all rendered 
valuable services in the field, and will fill the place for which they are recom- 
mended well. 

Lieutenant-Colonel John A. Rawlins has been my assistant adjutant-general 
from the beginning of the rebellion. No officer has now a more honorable 
reputation than he has ; and 1 think I can safely say that he would make a 
good corps commander. This promotion I would particularly ask as a reward 
of merit. 

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

(Signed) U. S. Grant, Major-Genferal. 

Washixgtok, D. C, April 4, 1S64. 
Hon. H. Wilson, Chairman Com. Military Affairs : 

SiK — I would most respectfully, but earnestly, ask for the confirmation of 
Brigadier-General Jolm A. Rawlins by your honorable body. General Rawlins 
has served with me from the beginning of the rebellion. 1 know he has most 
richly earned his present position. He comes the nearest being indispensable 
to me of any officer in the service. But if his confirmation is dependent on his 
commanding troops, he shall command troops at once. There is no department 
commander, near where he lias ser\t?d, that would not most gladly give him the 
very largest and most responsible command his rank would entitle him to. 

Believing a short letter on this subject more acceptable than a long one, I 
will only add, that it is my earnest desire that General Rawlins should be con- 
firmed : th:t if he fails, besides the loss it will be to the service and to me per- 
sonally, I shall feel, that by keeping with me a valuable officer, because he 
made himself valuable, I have worked him an injury. 
With great respect, your obedient servant, 

(Signed) U. S. Gr.vnt, Lieuieuant-General U. S. A. 

Headqi-auters Armies of the United States, 
City Point, Va., Fcbnuiry '23, 1865. 

De.\R Wasttburne — Inclosed I send you a letter just received from Colonel 
Duff", late of my staff I should bo delighted if an act should jiass Congress 
giving the commander of the army a chief of staff with the rank of a brigadier- 
general in the regular army. It is necessary to have such an officer, and I sw 
no reason why the law should not give it. It would also reward an officer who 
has won more desers'cd rejjutation in this war than any other who has acted 
throughout purely as a staff-officer. 



THE LIEUTENANT-GENERALS MILITAIIY HOUSEnOLD. -150 

I write to you inHtt-uil of Duff knowing your present friond.sliij) for Rawlins 
as Wfll ns mvsclf, nnd booauso you arc in a place to help thrs thinjj along, if 
you think wvU of it. 

(Signed^ U. S. Uu.vnt, Lieut. •nant-(ionfral I'. S. A. 



OrnER OFFICERS OF TIIK LIHUTEX.VNT-GEXERAL S STAFF. 

BRE^'ET Colonel Theodore S. Bowers is from Illinoi.s. He 
ontcivil tlie service in Auf^ist, ISOl, as a i)rivate in tlie Forty- 
eighth Kej.;imeut IlHnuis Infantry Vohintoers, deehning a 
commission, and served witli it until tlie return of General 
Grant's reconnoissanee in Kentucky, in January, 1.S(!'2, when 
he was detailed as clerk at his headquarters, and was with 
him at Forts Henry and Douelson, and until about the 9th of 
March folhiwing, -when ho accej^ted the first-lieutenancy of 
his comjiany, decUning the captaincy, which was tendered 
him. He was with his company and regiment at the battle 
of Shiloli, during which he was again ordered on duty at 
General Grant's hcadcjuarters, and appointed an aid-de-camp. 
In November, 1802, he was made a captain and aid-de-camp, 
and soon after a major and judge-advocate of the Ai*my of the 
Tennessee ; and m September, 1863, was assigned assistant 
adjutant-general, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, vice 
Colonel Rawlins, promoted, and from that time forward to the 
sui-render of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox 
Courthouse, was General Grant's chief assistant adjutant- 
general in the field ; and having shared with him the hard- 
shijis and dangers of the war, he is retainrd in the same 
position, and continues in the able and efficient discharge of 
his duties at Washington. For his faithful and eminent ser- 
vices, his ability and fitness, he was appointed, in September, 
1864, a major and assistant adjutant-general in the United 
States Army. He is a printer by trade, and at the breaking 
out of the war edited a Democratic newspaper in Si^uthem 
Illinois, He is an officer of fine judgment, high sense of 
honor, conscientious in his duties, and po.ssessing the full con- 
fidence of the lieutenant-general. Of this confidence no one 



4G0 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

is moro deserving, for none have labored more arduously or 
more loyally in his interest and the success of our arms. 

BRE^'ET Brigadier-General Cyeus B. Comstock, United 
States Army, is from Massachusetts, and a graduate of West 
Point. He reported to General Grant immediately after the 
commencement of the investment of Vicksburg, and was 
assigned to duty vnih Major F. E. Prime, chief-engineer. 
Major Prime being soon after taken dangerously ill, and sent 
North for recovery, he succeeded to his duties, and served 
throughout the siege, and until September following, when, on 
account of dangerous illness, he, too, was compelled to go 
North. In November, 1863, he was assigned as assistant 
inspector-general, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, vice 
Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson, promoted ; and upon General 
Grant's promotion to the lieutenant-generalcy, he was ap- 
pointed senior aid on his staff, and was with him in his cam- 
paign and battles from Culpepper to the fi-ont of Petersburg 
and the operations on the north of the James. He accom- 
panied the expedition under General Butler against Fort 
Fisher, and also the one under General Terry, being assigned 
in orders as chief-engineer of the latter ; and for his eminent ser- 
vices in it was brevetted brigadier-general in the United States 
Army. Early in March, 1865, he was sent by General Grant 
to General Canby, and was with that othcer in the capture of 
Spanish Fort, Fort Bhikel}', and at the fall of Mobile. Prior 
to his joining General Grant, he served with the Ai'my of the 
Potomac throughout the Peninsula campaign, and imtil after 
the battle of Chancellorsville. He is a soldier of gi-eat moral 
courage and pure bravery, energetic and untiring in the dis- 
charge of his duties, and ever seeking to advance the interests 
of the service ; a close student, and one of the ablest officers 
of his corps. 

Brevet Colonel Or-stlle E. Babcock, United States Army, 
is from Vermont, and a graduate of West Point. Upon Gen- 
eral Grant's promotion to the lieutenant-generalcy, he was 
a]i])()iiit('d aid-de-camp, with tlie rank of lieutenant-colonel, 
ii])on liis staff, and served with marked and distinguished 



THE LIEUTENANT (iKNKlJALS MILlTAin IIOUSEIIOM). ; ! 

ability in nil iiis (•iiiu})ai^nis nml bnttlts from C'ulj>tj)i)<T t<> 
Aj>]n)iii.ittox C'ourtlionsc. ilo is of tli(^ corps of «'n;^in»'crH, 
iiud s( ivrd with tlif Aiiiiy nf the Potomac tlirou<^h tlio Priiiii- 
suhi c'.iiiipaij^'ii, and until the Ninth Corps, in which ho was 
assistant inspector-general, was ordered West. He was in 
the sieges of Vicksburg ; Jackson, Mississippi ; and Knoxville, 
Tennessee ; and at the latter jilacc particularly, was conspicu- 
ous for his gallantry and sohlierly bearing in repulsing the 
rebel assault on Fort Sanders. As a thoroughly practical 
soldier in all the details and art of war, no staft-otUcer of the 
army enjoys a more enviable reputation than Colonial Bab- 
cock. He combines with his soldierly attainments givat ])er- 
sonal popularity. 

Brevet Colonel Hohvce Porter, United States Army, is 
from Pennsylvania, and a graduate of West Point. He is a 
captain of ordnance, and served in the Department of the 
Scnith, and participated in the siege and capture of Fort 
Pulaski, as cliief of ordnance in the field, and as commander 
of heavy artUlery ; with the Army of the Potomac in the 
Peninsula campaign, being the chief ordnance-officer in the 
field. In October, 18()2, he joined the Aj-my of the Ohio, and 
served with it until the battle of Stone Ptiver, when he was 
transferred to the Aa-my and Department of the Cumberland 
as chief ordnance-otMcer, and was with General Piosecrans in 
his campaign and battles from Mui-fteesboro' to Chickamauga, 
receiving fi'om that otiicer and his subordinates the liighest 
commendation for his efficiency. Upon General Grant's 
being made lieutenant-general, he appohited him an aid-de- 
camp, with the lank of lieutenant-colonel, and he was with 
him in his battles and eampaignis from Culpepper to Ai)po- 
mattox Comthouse, participating with General Sheridan in 
the battle of Five Forks. He is brave and efficient in the 
discharge of his duties, of soldierly instincts, and high stand- 
ing in his corps. 

Bre\-et Colonel Peter T. Hi'dson, United States Volun- 
teers, is a Kentuckian by V)irth, and a resident of Iowa. 11. 
was appoint-ed captain and aid-de-cami) in ISfJ.'j, and jojnerl 



402 gra^:t and his ca^^ipaigns. 

General Grant for duty at Vicksburg, and was with Lim in 
the campaign and battles of Chattanooga. Having a gi-eat 
desire for active employment, he accompanied General W. S. 
Smith's cavahy expedition, that started fi'om Memphis in Feb- 
ruary, 1864, in co-operation with General Sherman's movement 
from Vicksburg to Meridian, and was one of the many officers 
that were surprised and indignant at its disastrous termina- 
tion. He was with General Gi-ant in his campaign and battles 
from Culpepper to Appomattox Courthouse. In April, 1865, 
he was assigned as heutenant-colonel and aid-de-camp to the 
lieutenant-general. He is a time type of the Western man 
(ha\ing spent much of his time in the Eocky IMountains and 
California), and thoroughly practical in his judgment. 

Brevet Colonel Ada^i B.u)eau, United States Volunteers, is 
from New York. He was appointed a captain and additional 
aid-de-camp, and assigned to duty with General T. "\V. Sher- 
man, and was in the sieges of Fort Pulaski and Corinth, and 
the storming of Port Hudson, where he was severely wounded. 
Partially recovered from his wound, he joined General Grant 
in January, 1864, in pursuance of orders issued at General 
Grant's request, and was made military secretary, Avith the 
rank of lieutenant-colonel, on the general's promotion to the 
Ueutenant-generalcy. He was with him from Culpepper to 
Appomattox Courthouse. He is brave and zealous in the dis- 
charge of his duties, but possesses, perhaps, more of a hterary 
than military turn of mind. He is devoted to the general, and 
.stands high in his esteem. 

Brevet Colonel Ely S. Parker, United States Volunteers, is 
from New York. He is an Indian of pure blood, and chief of 
the Six Nations. The historic chief Eed Jacket is his great- 
uncle. He was appointed assistant adjutant-general of volun- 
teers, with the rank of captain, in the spring of 1863, and re- 
ported to General John E. Smith for duty about the conclud- 
ing days of the siege of Vicksburg, and served with him until 
the following September, when he was, by order of General 
(rrant, assigned to duty on his staff. He was with him in the 
campaign and battles of Cliattanooga, and was retained on 



Tin-: LIKITHNAXT-UENEUALS MILllAUY IIurSKllOLI). 4(53 

his stiifl* on his nppoiutmcnt to tho coiniiiaiKl of tli(^ armies, 
serving tlirough all his campai^'iis and hattlrs from Culpepper 
to Apponnittox Courthouse. In September, 1864, he was ap- 
pointed military seon>tarv, with the rank of heutenant-eohjncl, 
vkr Colonel Kowley, resij^ned. He was one of the commis- 
sioners recently sent by the President to treat with the hostile 
Indians in tho Southwest, and exercis(>d a great intluence in 
their deUberations. He is an accomplished soldier and ^vn- 
tlemau, an clocpient writer and speaker, of a high order of 
mind, gi-eat good sense, and clear, just judgment. 

Majok Geohge K. Leet, assistant adjutant-general of volun- 
teers, is a Pennsylvanian, but entered the service from Illinois 
as a private in tho Chicago Mercantile Battery, and served 
with it in General Sherman's expedition against Vicksburg, in 
the battle of Arkansas Post, and the l)attles and siege of 
Vicksburg. In August following the fall of Vicksburg, he was 
detached from his company as clerk at General Grant's head- 
quarters ; and in October next thereafter, on General Cirant's 
recommendation, Avas appointed captain and assistant adju- 
tant-general, and was with him in the campaign and battles 
of Chattanooga. On General Grant's appointment to the 
command of all the armies he was assigned to duty in Wash- 
ington, in charge of office headquarters there. He was pro- 
moted to a majority in the adjutant-general's department. As 
a private, he was a splendid soldier ; as an officer, prompt 
and efficient in the performance of his duty — a courteous gen- 
tleman and man of sense. Ho possesses the respect and con- 
tidence of all who know him. 

Caitain William McKee Dunn, jr., United States Volun- 
teers, is from Indiana. He entered the service in April, 1861, 
in the eighteenth year of his age, as a private in the Sixth 
Regiment Lidiana Infantry Volunteers, served his three 
mouths, and re-enlisted August 9, 1861, in the Sixty-seventh 
Regiment Indiana Infantry Volunteers, and served with it as 
a non-commissioned officer until October 19, 1861, when he 
was commissioned a Lieutenant in the Eighty-third Regiment 
Infantry Volunteers from the same State, and was with it in 



464 GR.\NT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

Sherman's first assault ou Yicksbui'g, and in the battle of Ar- 
kansas Post, and until March, 1863, when he was appointed 
an aid-de-camp to General Sullivan. During the siege of 
Vicksbm-g he was on duty at General Grant's headquarters, 
where he showed such bravery and cheerfulness in the dis- 
charge of his duties, in fact ever seeking to be sent on mis- 
sions of hardship and danger, that General Grant had him 
assigned to duty, in October, 1863, as acting aid-de-camp on 
his staff, where he continued to serve through aU the general's 
battles and campaigns to the surrender of Lee at Appomattox 
Courthouse. For his gallantry and efficiency he was made a 
captain and assistant adjutant-general, to date fi'om that sur- 
render. As an aid-de-camp, in the carrying of messages and 
dispatches he is unexcelled, and his personal popularity is 
equal to that of any one in the army. 

Brevet Major-General Seth Williams, United States 
Volunteers, is fi'om Maine, and a gi-aduate of West Point in 
the same class with General Grant. He served with dis- 
tinction in the Mexican war. He was assistant adjutant- 
general to General McClellan in his Western Vii'ginia cam- 
paigns, and on his being appointed to the command of all the 
armies, was made assistant adjutant-general of the Army of 
the Potomac on his staff, and soon after brigadier-general of 
volunteers. He continued in the same position and duties on 
the staff of all the successive commanders of that army 
through its many eventful battles and campaigns, until 
January 12, 1865, when he was relieved and assigned to 
duty on the staff of the Ueutenant-general, as acting 
inspector-general of the armies operating against Richmond ; 
and was with him in the spring campaign and battles that 
ended in the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox Court- 
house. In the discharge of his duties he is ever coiu'teous, 
and eminently able and efficient. He holds in strictest 
regard the confidential relations he necessarily bore to the 
several commanders of the Ai'my of the Potomac. He speaks 
only of such acts of theirs as the coimtry commends, and 
they would have pass into liistory. And it is doing no injus- 



THE T.IEUTENANT-QENERAL'S MILITARY HOUSEHOLD. 465 

tice to the many other able officers and good men in liis own 
department, or in tlio nrniv, to say ho is tlie ahlcst officer in 
his dopurtmeut, and one of tlie best men in America. 



OFFICERS LATE OF GENERAL GRANTS PERSONAL STAFF. 

Brigadier-General J. D. Webster, United States Volun- 
teers, was born in New Hiimpshiro, and at the beginning of 
the war was a citizen of Chicago, Illinois. Commissioned a 
major and additional paymaster, he was assigned to duty at 
Cairo, Illinois, as acting chief-engineer ; and soon after 
General Grant assumed command there, he was announced in 
orders as chief of staff and acting engineer. In the latter 
part of February, 1862, he was appointed colonel of the 
Fii'st Eegimont Illinois Light Aitillery Yoluntoers, and was 
contiuTied on General Grant's staff as chief of staff and 
artillery until November, when he was appointed brigadier- 
general of volunteers, and roli(M'ed General McPherson in the 
superintendence of mihtary railroads. In all General Grant's 
operations, including the battle of Belmont, to the date of 
his assignment as such superintendent, he bore a conspicuous 
part, especially in the battle of Shiloh. 

CoLONTiL CL.VRK B. Lagow was fi'om Illinois. He entered 
the service in June, 1861, as a first-lieutenant in the Twenty- 
first Regiment Illincus Infantry Volunteers, of which General 
Grant was the colonel. Immediately on the general's receiv- 
ing notice of his promotion to a brigadier-generalcy, he 
appomted him an aid-de-camp on his staff, where, and with 
which rank, he served through all of General Grant's battles 
and campaigns until after Shiloh, when he was promoted to a 
colonelcy and additional aid-de-camp, and continued with 
the general through all his military operations untU Decem- 
ber following the campaign and battles of Chattanooga, when, 
on account of ill-health, he resigned his commission. He 
was xerry brave, and greatly devoted to the general ; and was 
one of those heroic men who passed the Vicksburg batteries 
on transport steamers. 



4^6 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

Colonel "William S. Bjllter, United States Ai-my, was 
bom ill Keutiicky, but settled in the practice of law in Indi- 
ana, and Lad barely attained his majority when he was elected 
to the legislature of the State, in which he served one term. 
Determining to discard politics and devote his energies to his 
profession, he moved to St. Louis, Missoui'i, where, by his 
tact and abihty, he soon established himself in a most lucra- 
tive practice. In St. Louis was formed the acquaintance and 
friendship that still continues between him and General Grant. 
Fully committed to the support of his country and the Union, 
he was outspoken from the beginning against its enemies ; 
and was one of those fearless loyahsts of St. Louis who saved 
that city fi'om the hands of the rebels. On General Grant's 
promotion to brigadier-general, in August, 1861, he appointed 
him an aid-de-camp on his staff. He was with the general in 
the occupancy of Paducah, the battle of Belmont, the recon- 
noissance in Kentucky, at Fort Henry, the siege and battle 
of Fort Donelson, and battle of Shiloh, where, for his eminent 
services, he was appointed a colonel and additional aid-de- 
camp, and continued with him in all his subsequent mihtary 
operations to the complete investment of Yicksburg, when, 
owing to the urgent necessity for his personal attention to his 
private afl'airs, he resigned his commission. From June, 
1862, he was provost-marshal-general. He was able in the 
discharge of his duties, and his decisions were characterized 
by humanity and justice. He is a man of very superior ability, 
and his -s-iews and opinions had great weight with General 
Grant, in whose esteem he always stood high as an officer 
and friend, possessing his confidence in an eminent degree. 

Major-General jAirES B. McPherson, United States Vol- 
unteers, was from Ohio, and a gi-aduate of "West Point. He 
was a captain of engineers, and lieutenant-colonel under the 
additional aid-de-camp act, and reported to General Grant, 
February 1st, 1862, under orders from General Hallock, as 
chief-engineer of the Tennessee Bivor expedition, and served 
with him in the eventful campaigns and battles that followed, 
until General Halleck assumed commaml in the field in per- 



THE TJErTENANT-QENERAI/S MILITAUV HOUSEHOLD. 407 

son. }[(• \v;is ;i proficient in liis profession, and combined all 
tho riMpiisitcs of an acconiplishi'd soldier and true man. On 
General Halleck's recommendation, ho was appointed briga- 
dier-general of volunteers, and on the evacuation of Corinth, 
assigned to the command of the engineer troops and the 
superintendence of military railroads. He was with (rencral 
Grant in the movement against Price at luka, and immediately 
after the battle of Corinth, on General Grant's recommenda- 
tion, was a]ipointed a major-general of volunteers, and relieved 
fi'om railroad duty and assigned to the command of troops ; a 
field most fitted for him, and in which he made hLs country's 
history his. General Grant was dee])ly affected when he 
received news of his death, so much so, that notwithstanding 
the great control he has over his feelings, he could not refrain 
from the manifestation of his giief in tears. 

LlEUTENANT-CoLONTEL WlLU.VM R. EOWLEY, United States 

Volimteei-s, is a New Yorker by birth, and a citizen of Galena, 
Illinois. At the breaking out of the war he was clerk of the 
Jo-Da^'iess County Circuit Court. In September, 1801, he 
entered the service as a first-lieutenant in the Forty-Fifth 
Illinois Infantry Volunteers, and was with it at Fort Henry 
and in the battle of Donelson, when he was appointed an aid- 
de-camp on General Grant's staff, and so(m after promoted to 
a captaincy under the additicmal aid-de-camp law. He was 
appointed major and aid-de-canip in November, 1802, and lieu- 
t«^nant-colonel and military secretary on the general's a|)point- 
ment to lieutenant-general, and was with him in all his battles 
and campaigns (except the one against Vieksburgi, until August, 
1804, when, on account of broken health, he resigned. Owing 
to severe illness he could not accompany the general on the 
Vicksburg campaign. Partially recovering from his illness, he 
was placed cm duty as provost-marshal at Columbus, and ren- 
dered important service. In Se])tember, 1803, he relieved 
('olonel K«'nt as provost-marshal-general on General Grant's 
staff. He brought to bear, in the discharge of his duties, bra- 
vi^ry, energy, and fine business (pialitieations. 

Colonel John RiciGIN, Jr., United States Army, was from 



468 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

Missouri. He served as volunteer aid-de-camp from Decem- 
ber, 18G1, until the 1st of April, 18G2, participating in all 
General Grant's military ojoerations to that date. He was 
afterwards, as a recognition of his services, appointed colonel 
and additional aid-de-camp, and was with the general in all 
his campaigns and battles from the evacuation of Corinth 
until September following the fall of Vicksbui-g, w^hen he 
resigned his commission. He is a man of most excellent 
business qualifications. 

Colonel George P. Iheie, United States Army, was a 
citizen of California, and formerly of the old army, but not a 
graduate of West Point. He served as volunteer aid-de- 
camp in the siege of Corinth, and was appointed colonel and 
additional aid-de-camp in Jime, 18G2, serving respectively as 
acting inspector-general and commissary of musters ; and 
particularly distinguished himself in the defence of Trenton, 
Tennessee, in December, 1862, against FoiTest, saving from 
capture our raifroad trains there. He continued with General 
Grant until the beginning of April, 1863. 

Major Frederick E. Prime, United States Army, is from 
New York, and a graduate of West Point. He reported to 
General Grant in July, 1862, and was assigned to duty as 
chief-engineer. He laid out and constiiicted the interior 
lines of defence at Corinth, that withstood the enemy's des- 
perate assaults on the 4tli of October, 1862 ; was in the Talla- 
hatchie and Yicksburg campaigns, and personally supervised all 
engineering operations in the siege of Vicksbui'g, imtil near its 
close, when he was prostrated by fever, and forced to go Xorth 
for recovery. He is one of the ablest and most efficient officers 
of his corps. After the fall of Vicksburg, he was appointed 
brigadier-general of volujiteers, but declined to accept it. 

Lieutenant-Colonel William L. Duff, Second Eegiment 
Illinois Light Ai'tillery, is a Scotchman by bii-th, and a citizen 
and resident of lUinois. He entered the service immediately 
on the breaking out of the war, and served with his command 
until October, 1862, when he was assigned to duty as chief of 
artillery, and served as such thi'ough the Tallahatchie, Vicks- 



THF, i.n':r'TKN'ANT-nENEi{.\i;s Airr-iTARY iiorsF.iioi.D ir,o 

h\\r<s„ aiul C'hattnnoofra camptiip^a, and until (fonoral Grant 
was appointinl licuti'nant-f^cnoral. Ho was then assi^Micd to 
duty as assistant ins])('c't()r-<;(>noral on liis statV, and was with 
him in his liichnumd hatth's and campaif^nis until tin' expira- 
tion (if his term of service, in Jainiarv, ISd;"). 

Majoh-(iENK1!AI. .Tamks H. Wii,s(in, Initt'd States Volunteers, 
is from Uliiiois, and a ^naduate of West Point. Ho was in 
the siege and captun^ of Fort Pulaski, and with Creneral 
McClellan iu the battle of ^Vntietam, and reported to Geni'ral 
Grant in October, 18()2, a first-lieutenant of topographical en- 
gineers, and was assigned to duty as chief of his cor|-)s. From 
his love for the advanced front, ho was put on duty temporarily 
with General McPherson, and continued with him until we 
fell back from the Yocona to Holly Springs. In January, 
1808, he was assigned in orders as assistant inspector-general, 
with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, on Major-General D. Hun- 
ter's stall' ; but on application of General Grant was ordered 
to remain with him. He accompanied the Yazoo Pass expe- 
dition as chief-engineer, and continued on engineer's duty 
throughout the Vicksburg campaign. The activity, industry, 
energy, and abihty he displayed evinced his fitness for com- 
mand. He was promoted to a brigadier-generalcy of volun- 
teers in October, 18G3, and continued on staff-duty through 
the Chattanooga campaign, accompanying General Sherman 
to the n-lief of Knoxville. In January, 1864, he was ordered 
to Washington, and appointed chief of the cavahy bureau, 
from which he was relieved at General Grant's reipiest, and 
assigned to the command of a division of Sheridan's cavalry, 
in the Army of the Potomac. His brilliant achievements as 
a cavalry leader are a part of our country's history. 

Gapt.u?! Orl.\npo H. lloss, United States Volunteers, is an 
Ohioan by birth, and at the breaking out of the war was a 
citizen of lUinois. In October, 18t;2, ho was appointed a 
second-lieutenant in th(> Twi'ntieth Regiment Illinois Infantry 
Volunteers, and soon after an aid-de-camp, with the rank of 
captain, to General Grant, and continued with him through 
all his military operations until March, 1804. 



470 GRANT AND HIS CA!irPAIGNS. 

Brigadier-General Frederick T. Dent, United States Vol- 
unteers, is from Missouri, and a graduate of West Point. He 
served with distinction through the Mexican war, and in the 
war of the rebellion, with his regiment, the Fourth United 
States Infantry, in the East, until General Grant was made 
lieutenant-general and estabhshed his headquarters with the 
Army of the Potomac, when he was appointed aid-de-camp, 
with the rank of heutenant-colonel. He served with the gen- 
eral fi-om Culpepper to Appomattox Courthouse, and during 
the pursuit of Lee from Petersburg, received notice of his 
promotion to a brigadier-generalcy of volunteers. He is a 
brave and dashing officer, of gi-eat generosity and nobleness 
of heart. 

Bre\-et Brigadier-General Loren Kent, United States Vol- 
unteers, is fi-om Illinois. He entered the service as a private 
in the beginning of the war, and through merit reached the 
lieutenant-colonelcy of the Twenty-ninth Eegiment HLinois 
Infantry Volunteers. In June, 1863, he was assigned to duty 
on General Grant's staff as provost-marshal-general, vice 
Colonel Hillyer, resigned, and continued on that duty until 
the following September, when he was promoted to the col- 
onelcy of his regiment, and at his o-svn request reheved to 
command it. He is an officer of integidty and good sense. 

Bre^tst Major-General J. G. Barnard, United States 
Volxmteers, is from Massachusetts, and a graduate of West 
Point. He reported to General Grant at Cold Harbor, in 
June, 18G4:, and was assigned to duty as chief-engineer of the 
armies in the field, and served as such temporarily, subject to 
the orders of General Meade, until the Ai'my of the Potomac 
formed a junction with the Ai-my of the James, when he was 
assigned in orders as chief-engineer of the armies operating 
against Richmond. He was with General Grant fiom the 
date of his joining him until the sui-render of Lee at 
Appomattox Coui'thouse. He is of the corps of engineers, 
and stands high in rank and ability ; and in scholarly 
attainments, few, if any, of his corps are his superiors. He 
was chief-eu'jinecr to General McClellau in the Peninsula 



TUE LIEUTENA^■T GENERAL'S MILITAIiY IIOlSEIIOLD. 47I 

cam])ai[;n, ;uul will, jiorlnips, be as louf; unci distinctly rcinciu- 
bcivd for his soarrliiny review of that ^'eiicral's report (^f his 
operations as for any services rendered his coinitry in the held. 

Major A. J. Kuykkndal, Thirty-first Pve;^Mnient Illinois 
Infantry Yoluuteers, was jiroYost-marshal for the districts of 
" Southeast Missoim" and " Cairo" respectively. Ho was 
fearless, honest, and efficient in the discharge of his duties. 
At the commencement of the war lie was a leading Democrat 
in Southern Illinois, and a senator in the State le^'islature, 
and gave his whole influence to the support of the Govern- 
ment. After the battle of Shiloh, owmg to his health and 
business aftaii-s, besides believing he could do the cause 
greater service at home, he resigned his commission. Ho 
now represents his district in the present national Congress. 

Colonel T. Lyle Dickey, Fourth Kegiment Illinois Cavalry 
Volunteers, was assigned in June, 1862, chief of cavalry. He 
commanded the cavalry in the battles of Fort Donelson and 
Shiloh ; and in the ailvance on Corinth, puslied out, and after 
considerable fighting with the enemy's cavalry, cut the rail- 
road near Purdy, between Corinth and Jackson. In the 
Tallahatchie campaign he commaneled the cavahy in person, 
and was always at the front. TMiile we lay at Oxford, he 
made a successful raid against the Mobile and Ohio Raih-oad. 
He was a brave and able officer, but too far advanced in 
years to stand the hardshijDS of the service. He resigned in 
the spring of 18(58. 

BuEM^T Major J. C. AiTiENRrED, United States Army, and 
first-lieutenant Sixth United States Cavalry, is from Penn- 
sylvania, and a graduate of West Point. He served in the 
East, and was a captain and aid-de-camp on the statl" of 
Major-Cieneral Sumner at the time of his death, and imme- 
diately after was ordered to report to General Grant, which 
he did during the investment )f Yicksburg, June, 18fi.3 ; and 
sen'ed with him until he was a: -igned to the command of the 
Military Division of the Mississippi, when ho reported to 
General Sherman. He was with that officer in all his subse- 
quent and brilliant military operations. 



472 fJRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

Major-Geotral W. F. Smith, United States Yolmiteers, is 
from Yermont, and a graduate of West Point, and belongs to 
the corps of engineers. He was General Grant's chief-engi- 
neer, during his command of the Military Di^•ision of the 
Mississippi, and bore a part, which is akeadj historic, in the 
campaign and battles of Chattanooga. His services with the 
Army of the Potomac, prior to his service in the West, and in 
the Ai'my of the James since, are familiar to the country. 
He is a very able and accomplished ojficer, and particularly 
distinguished for his strategic grasp. 

Beeyet Majoii H. C. EoBrNEXTE, United States Volunteers, 
and first-heutenant Fu'st Infantry, is from Delaware. He was 
with his company in the battle of Corinth, October 3d and 
4:th, 186'2, and in the siege of Vicksburg ; and was subse- 
quently appointed captain and aid-de-camp on the staff of 
General McClernand; and after the discontinuance of the 
Thii'tecnth Corps, in September, 1864, was assigned to duty 
with the lieutenant-general, and continued with him imtil the 
surrender of Lee. 

Bre^-et Capt^un D. E. Porter, United States Ai-my, is fi-om 
the District of Columbia, and is first-lieutenant in the First 
United States Artillery. He served with his battery in the 
Army of the Potomac, and in October, 18G4, was assigned 
acting aid-de-camp to General Grant, and Avas with him until 
the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia. 

Lieutenant H. N. Townter, Second Regiment Illinois Light 
Artillery Volunteers, was, from November 2d, 1802, assistant 
chief of artillery on General Grant's staff, and in all his battles 
and campaigns, until he was appointed lieutenant-general. 
He was severely wounded in the battle of Chattanooga, while 
in the faithful discharge of his duties. 



APPENDIX. 



TiiB following correspondence will give the rationale of Sherman's movft- 
ment, as for as it concerned that of Grant : 

IlEADQnARTERS TllIRTKENTn ArMT CoRPS, 

Depahtmknt or thk Tknnessee, Oxford, Mim., Doc. ^, 1S62. 
Major-general W. T. Siikrman, Comnuindiny liiyht Wing : 

You will proceed with as littlo delay oa possible to Memphis, Tennessee, taking 
with you one division of your present command. On your arrival at .Memphis you 
will assume command of all the troops there, and that portion of General Curtis's 
forces at present cast of the Mississippi River, and or),^nize them into brig:idos and 
divisions in your own way. As soon as possible, move with them down the river to 
the vicinity of V'icksburi?, and with the co-operation of the gunboat fleet, under com- 
mand of Flag-OlHcer Porter, proceed to the reduction of that place, in such manner 
BB ciroumstanoes an<l your own judgment may dictate. 

The amount of rations, forage, land transportation, etc., necessary to take, will be 
left entirely to yourself. The quartermaster at St. Louis will bo instructed to send 
you transportation for thirty thousand men : should you still find yourself deficient, 
your quartermaster will bo authorized to moke up the deficiency from such transports 
as may come into the port of Memphis. 

On arriving at Xlcmphis, put yourself in commonication with Adnjiral Foot©, and 
arrange with him for his co-operation. 

Infonn me at the earliest practicable day of the time when you will embark, and 
such plans as may then bo matured. 1 will hold the forces here in readiness to co- 
operate with you in such manner as the movements of the enemy may make necessary. 

Leave the district of Xlcmphis in the command of an efficient "flicor, and with a gar- 
rison of four regiments of infantry, the siege-guns, and whatever cavalry may bo there. 
(Signed) U. S. Gbant, Major- General. 

Headquarters Depautment of n.i Texxissei, 
Oxford, Miss., Dec. 14, 1S62. 
Major-Gexeral Shervax, Oommanding, tie. : 

I have not had one word from Griorson since ho loft, and am getting uncn.'y abont 
him. I hope Genoml Gorman will give you no difficulty about retaining iho troops 
that were on this side of tho river, and Steolo to command them. The twenty-one 
thousand men you have, with twelve thousand from Helena, will niako a good force. 
The enemy are as yet on the Yalabusha. I am pushing down on them slowly, but no 
as to keep up the impression of a continuous move. I feel particularly anxious to 
have the Helena cavalry on this side of the river ; if not now, at least after you start. 
If Gorman will send them, instruct them where to go and how to cimniunieato with 
me. My hcudquarters will probably be in CotTuevilJo one week lionco. In the mean 
time, I will be at Sprincdale. It would be well if you could have two or three small 
boats suititble for navigating t)io Yazoo. It may become ueceasary for mo to look to 
that base for supplies before wo get Uiroagh. 

(Signed) U. S. Gra.nt, Uajor-GeneraL 



474 GRANT AND HIS CAilPAIGNS. 

Headqcartees Right Wind Armt of tqk Tennesskb, 
OxTOBD, Miae., Dec. 8, 1662. 
Ssab-Aduiral D. D. Pouter, 

Commanding United States Naval Forces, Cairo, Illinois : 

The movement thus far lias beeu eminently successful. General Grant's moving 
down directly upon the enemy's strong lines behind the Tallahatchie, while the 
Helena force appeared unexpectedly on their flank, utterly confounded them, and 
they are now in full retreat, and we are at a loss where they will bring up. We hope 
tliey will halt and reform behind the Yalabusha, with Grenada as their centre. If bo, 
General Grant can pass their front, while I am ordered to take all the spare troops 
from Memphis and Helena, and proceed with all dispatch to Vicksburg. 

Time now is the great object. We must not give time for new combinations. I 
know you will promptly co-operate. It will not be necessary to engage their Vicks- 
burg batteries until I have broken all their inland communication. Then Vicksburg 
must be attacked by land and water. In this I will defer much to you. 

My purpose will be to cut the road to Monroe, Louisiana, to Jackson, Mississippi, 
and then appear up the Yazoo, threatening the Mississippi Central road where it 
crosses the Big Black. 

These movements will disconcert the enemy, and throw them on to Meridian, espe- 
cially as General Grant presses them in front. All this should be done before the 
winter rains make General Grant's road impassable. I will leave for Memphis to- 
morrow, Tuesday night, and will reach Memphis, with one of my old divisions, Friday 
night. We ought to leave Memphis before the 20th, and I do earnestly desire you 
should meet me there at all events ; .even if the larger gunboats cannot proceed at 
once, send those of light draught down, with Captain Phelps, Gwin, Shirke, or some 
ofiBcer to assist me in the preliminary work. Of course, Vicksburg cannot be reduced 
till you arrive with the large gunboats. 

General Grant's purpose is to take full advantage of the effects of the Tallahatchie 
success. I am, with respect, 

(Signed) W. T. Shekjian, Major-General commanding. 

"We append the following letter, which has never been published : 

Wa3Hin«tos, D. C, July 81, 1868. 
Major-General U. S. Grant, Vicksburg, Mississippi : 

Your report, dated July 6th, of your campaign in Mississippi, ending in the capita- 
lation of Vicksburg, was received last evening. Your narrative of this campaign, 
like the operations themselves, is brief, soldierly, and in every respect creditable and 
satisfactory. In boldness of plan, rapidity of execution, and brilliancy of routea, 
these operatic is will compare most favorably with those of Napoleon about Ulm. 
You and your army have well deserved the gratitude of your country, and it will be 
the boast of your children that their fathers were of the heroic army which reopened 
the Mississippi Hiver. 

(Signed) H. W. Halleck, General-in-Chief. 

The following is the indorsement of General Grant on the correspondence 
between Wright and Sheridan : 

[No. 89.] 
Middle Militabt Division, General P. H. Sheridan, 

April U, 1865. 
Forwards copy of dispatch to General Wright, commanding Sixth Corps, asking 
him to report the action of that corps at the battle of Sailors' (':eck, April 6th, and 
forward same ; also. General Wright's reply, who says ho has i sorted to General 
Meade, under whose orders ho is, and to whoso army his corps b. 'Ugs. Asks that 
General Wright be instructed to report to him (General Sheridan). 



APPENDIX. 475 

IlKADguAHTitn* AnMT Umtko Statm, 
Wa^iiinotox, May S, 1N'".>. 
Respectfully referred to Mnjor-Ocncrnl Mca<lc, coinmaniliii^ tin) Army of llio i'o- 
toniuc, mid nttcntinii invited to inclosed copy of liinpntch, of diiti- fith ii ntant, to 
Major-Goiicml Wrijfht, coinmandiiijf Sixth Army Corps; also, to copy of dixpotch to 
Mfgor-Gcncrul Slieridnn, of date April 6th, 196.'). 

This corps was not, by any order, at any time, detached from your command, bat 
under my instructions to Major-Ctoneral Slieridan, in answer to information I liad just 
received tVom him, ho was authorized to assume the command of this corps, when it 
joined him, and it is considered a matter of simple justico that it« action, while under 
his command, be reported to him. 

In your official report, you will report the whole of the operations of that corps, on 
the Cth of April, 1865, and General Wrij^ht will bo required to make to you a report 
of the whole day's operations, including the battle of Sailors' Crei-k. 

(Signed) U. S. Grant, Licutenant-Qcneral. 

Official copy : 

E. S. Parker, brevet Colonel and Military Secretary, 

Ueadquarters Armies of the United States, Nov. 3, 1S65. 

The following is General Grant's letter to General Wright, setting the 
controversy at rest : 

Headquarters Armies of the Unfted Statks, 
Wasiiisoton, May 6, 1865. 
Major-Gen-eral II. G. Wrioht, City Point, Virginia: 

Pleaie furnish on official report of your corps in the battle of Sailors' Creek, fought 
April 6tli, 1S65, to Major-Gcneral P. II. Sheridan. It was the intention of the lieu- 
tenant-general, that (in the absence of other orders) when you joined Sheridan, yon 
should act under his orders, and he was so instructed. 

A copy of this dispatch will be forwarded to Major-General Meade. 
By command of LiKtrrENANT-GENERAL Grant, 

T. S. BowKRs, Assistant Adjutant-GoneraL 
Official copy : 

£. S. Pabeeb, brevet Colonel and Military Secretary. 

THE CAMPAIGN FROM THE RAPIDAN. 

The following letter from General Halleck, shows that Grant acted for 
himself in the flanking movement across the Chickohominy and the 
James. 

HsADQUAirtEBS OF THE Armt, Wasuixoton, 
May 27, 1'564. 
LiBtTTKNANT-GEXTBAL Grant, In th* FUli : 

• •*•*• 

Permit me to report to yon the opinions which have been expressed to me within 
the last two years, by officers who are thoroughly acquainted with the country, and 
who had much experience with General McClcllan in his Peninsula operations. 

They say that any campaign against Richmond, based on the Pamunkey, with West 
Point, White House, or even New Castle, as the point of supplies, will involve the 
defence of the line of the York and Pamunkey rivers, and the passai;e of the Chicka- 
hotniny and its swamps. This will leave Lee, if he falls hack upon Richmond, the 
James River Canal and one or more of the railroads south of that river as communi- 
cations by which to receive re-onforeeroent« and supplies. Even if your cavalry 
should cut these communications, they will soon be reopened. But should you oo- 
(rapy the sector less than ninety degrees, between the James and the Chickahonuny, 



476 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

your right resting on the former, and your left on the Horse Pond or Meadow Bridge, 
your <luiik8 will be pretty safe, your line of advance will be over favorable ground, 
you will hold the canal, and can, with your cavalrj', control the railroad lines south of 
the Jan es Kiver. Moreover, they say this point is the most favorable for an attack, 
as the Tredegar Iron Works, the arsenal, the water-works, and all the flouriiig-milLs, lie 
on the northwest side of the city, exposed to a bombardment from that direction. 
By advancing on this liiie, you will, when within ten miles of Richmond, be about 
equidistant from Fredericksburg, Port Royal, Tappahannock, aiid West Point. At 
Ashland, or on tho South Anna, the latter will be the most distant, a.s well as the 
most inaccessible point of supplies. The navigation to White House is said to be 
difficult and precarious. 

If you keep up three points of supply — viz.. Port Royal or Tappahannock, by the 
Rappahannock; White House or West Point, by the York; and City Point, by the 
James — you will have three lines of communication to guard, which will require a 
large number of troops and gunboats. Moreover, three lines seriously affect otir 
water transportation, which is much reduced by keeping so many vessels loaded with 
ordnance and commissary stores. If consistent with your plan of operations, it 
would be safer and more economical to keep up only a single line. It is especially 
inconvenient to keep so many vessels and supplies in the James River. Moreover, 
many of the commissary stores will be seriously injured by keeping them in vessels. 

The general impression among the staff-officers with whom I have conversed is, that 
the Tappaiiannock line is preferable to West Point or Port Royal. Our large trans- 
ports cannot reach the latter place or White House. Why not, when Smith's forces 
have joined you, break up either the York or Rappahannock line, and bring out of 
James River all transports with stores not required there ? I think it would simplify 
the supplying of your army, and greatly economize transportation. 

Is it not safer to have your depot of supplies in your rear towards Washington, 
than on the James or York? I presume there were good reasons for abandoning the 
Fredericksburg road at the time you did ; but if you should wish to resume that 
line, it can be immediately put in operation. It is completed to Falmouth, and the 
bridge to Fredericksburg can be restored in a few days. Although a little longer for 
land transportation than either of the others, it is much shorter and more convenient 
by water, and with our railroad facilities supplies could be forwarded much more 
rapidly. And I hardly think a larger force would bo required to guard it. 

I simply make these suggestions for your consideration, but shall make no chiinges 
without your orders. I, however, must urge you not to put the Chickahominy between 
your army and its supplies, nor between you and Richmond. It is a most serious 
obstacle to be passed by a large army, or by its supplies. Moreover, in tho summer 
months, it is exceedingly unhealthy, as is also the James River below Richmond. 
Verj' respectfully, your obedient servant, 

H. W. Hallkck, Major-General and Chief of Staff. 

A true copy : 

E. S. Parkeb, brevet Colonel and Military Secretary. 



REPORT OF LIEUTENAJs^-GENERAL U. S. GRA2s^T, 

OF TIIK 

UNITED STATES ARMIES— 1864-'65. 



nKUXltlAKTIKS ARMin OF TWK UwrTWB StATM, 

Wa«ui.noton, D. C, Juljr '."i, 1S05. 
Sir— 1 have tho honor to submit tho following report of the operations of the 
Armies of the United States from the date of my appointment to command tho same. 
From an early period in tho rebellion I had been impressed with the idea that active 
and continuous operations of all tho troops that could be broiii?ht into tlio tield, re- 
gardless of season and weather, were necessary to a speedy termination of tiie war. 
Tho resources of the cnomv and his numerical strength were far inferior to ours ; but 
03 an offset to this, we had a vast territory, with a population hostile to tho Govern- 
ment, to garrison, and long lines of river and railroad communications to protect, to 
enable us to supplv the ii[ierating armies. 

Tho armies iu tlie East and West acted independently and without concert, like a 
balky team, no two ever pulling together, cnabhiig tho enemy to use to great advan- 
tage his interior lines of communication tor transporting troops from East to \v est, re- 
enforcing tho army most vigorously pressed, and to furlough largo numbers, during 
seasons of iniictiviiy on our part, to go to their homes and do the work ol producing, 
for the support of their armies. It was a question whether our numerical strength 
and resources were not more than balanced by these disadvantages and the enemy a 
superior position. i j , » u 

From the first, I was firm in the conviction that no peace could be had that would 
bo stable and conducive to the hap|)iiiess of the people, both North and South, nntil 
the miliuiry power of the rebellion wius entirely broken. . 

I therefore determined, first, to use the greatest number of troops practicable against 
the armed force of the enemy ; preventing him from using tho same f. roe at ditlerent 
BCisons against first one and then another of our armies, and the possibiliiv ot reoose 
for refitting and producing necessary suuplies for carrying on resistance. Second, to 
liammer continuously against tho armed force of tho enemy and his resources, until 
by mere attrition, if in no other way, there should bo nothing \et\ to him but an equal 
aubmiision with the loyal section of our common country to tho constitution and law» 
of the land. , . • 

These views have been kept constantly in mind, and orders given :i: jn» 

made to carry them out. Whether they might have been bolter in ■ • d 

execution is for tho people, who mourn tho loss of friends fallen, and w i ay 

the pecuniary cost, to say. All 1 can say is, that what I have done hu.-* been done 
conscientiously, to the best of my ability, and in what I conceived to bo for Uic best 
interests of the whole cninlr^'. 

At tho date when Uii-* rc|K)rt begins, tho situation of tho contending forces was 
abont as follows : The M^^si.naippi liiver was stron^jly garrisoiiril by K<- Icm! 'r -^p*, 
from St. Louis, Missouri, to its mouth. The line of the Ar us 

giving us armed possession of all west of tho .Mi.Hsissippi, U"- w 

points in Southern Louisiana, not remote from tho river, v ,_ er 

with a small garrison at and near tho mouth of tho Kio Grando. An ol 

the vast territory of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texaa was iu tho almoal i. ; >»- 

session of the onemv, with an army of probably not less than eighty thou.-^iiu i . uictive 
men, that could have been brought into the field had Lhuro boon sulliciout oppoouion to 



478 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

have broufrht them out. The let-alone policy had demoralized this force so much, that 
probably little more thau one-half of it was ever present in garrison at any one time. 
But the one-half, or forty thousand men, with the bands of guerrilla.^ scattered tiirough 
Missouri, Arkansas, and along the Mississippi River, and the disloyal character of much 
of the population, compelled the use of a large number of troops to keep navigation 
open on the river, and to protect the loyal people to the west of it. To tlie east of 
the Mississippi we held substantially with the line of the Tennessee and Holston 
rivers, running eastward to include nearly ail of the State of Tennessee. South of 
Chattanooga, a snjall foothold had been obtained in Georgia, sufficient to protect East 
Tennessee from incursions from the enemy's force at Dalton, Georgia. West Virginia 
was substantially within our lines. Virginia, with the exception of the nortliem 
border, the Potomac River, a small area about the mouth of James River, covered by 
the troops at Norfolk and Fort Monroe, and the territory covered by the Army of the 
Potomac lying along the Rapidan, was in the possession of the enemy. Along the 
seacoast footholds had been obtained at Plymouth, Washington, and Newbern, in 
North Carolina; Beaufort, Folly and Morris Islands, Hilton Hbad, Fort Pulaski, and 
Port Royal, in South Carolina ; Fernandina and St. Augustine, in Florida. Key 
West and Pensacola were also in our possession, while all the important ports were 
blockaded by the navj-. The accompanying map, a copy of which was sent to Gen- 
eral Sherman and other commanders' in March, 1864, shows by red lines the territory 
occupied by us at the begiiming of tiie rebellion, and at the opening of the campaign 
of ls64, while those in blue are the lines which it was proposed to occupy. 

Behind the Union lines there were many bands of guerrillas and a large population 
disloyal to the Government, making it necessary to guard every foot of road or river 
used in supplying our armies. In the South, a reign of militarj' despotism prevailed, 
which made every man and boy capable of bearing arms a soldier ; and those who 
could not bear arms in the field acted as provosts for collecting deserters and return- 
ing them. This enabled the enemy to bring almost his entire strength into the 
field. 

The enemy had concentrated the bulk of his forces east of the Mississippi into 
two armies, commanded by Generals R. E. Lee and J. E. Johnston, his ablest and 
best generals. The army commanded by Lee occupied the south bank of the Rapidan, 
extending from Mine Run westward, strongly intrenched, covering and defending 
Richmond, the rebel capital, against the Army of the Potomac. The army under 
Johnsttin occupied a strongly intrenched position at Dalton, Georgia, covering and 
defending Atlanta, Georgia, a place of great importance as a railroad centre, against 
the armies under Major-General W. T. Sherman. In addition to these armies he had 
a large cavalry force under Forrest, in Northeast Mississippi ; a considerable force, of 
all arms, in the Shenandoah Valley, and in the western part of Virginia and extreme 
eastern part of Tennessee ; and also confronting our seacoast garrisons, and holding 
blockaded ports where we liad no foothold upon land. 

These two armies, and the cities covered and defended by them, were the main ob- 
jective points of the campaign. 

Major-General W. T. Snerman, who was appointed to the command of the Military 
Division of the Mississippi, embracing all the -armies and territory east of the Missis- 
sippi River to the Alleghanies, and the Department of Arkansas, west of the Missis- 
sippi, liad the immediate command of the armies operating against Johnston. 

Major-General George G. Meade had the immediate command of the Army of the 
Potomac, from where I exercised general supervision of the movements ot' all our 
armies. 

General Sherman was instructed to move against Johnston's army, to break it up, 
and to gu into the interior of the enemy's country as far as he could, inflicting all the 
damage he could upon their war resources. If the enemy in his front showed signs 
of joining Lee, to follow him up to the full extent of his ability, while 1 would pre- 
vent the concentration of Lee upon him, if it was in the power of the Army of the 
Potomac to do so. More specific written instructions were not given, for the reason 
that 1 had talked over with him the plans ot the campaign, and was satisfied that ho 
understood them and would execute them to the fullest extent nossible. 

Major-General N. 1'. Banks, then on an expedition up Red River against Shreve- 
port, Louisiana (which had been organized previous to my appointment to command), 
was notified by me on the 15lli of March, of the importance it was that Slireveport 
should bo taUun at the earliest jiossiblo day, and that if he found that the taking of it 
would occupy from ten to fifteen days' more time than General Sherman had given his 
troops to be absent from their command, he would sctul them back at the time speci- 
fied by General Sherman, even if it led to the abandonment of the main object of the 
Rod River expedition, for tliis Ibrcc was necessary to movements cast of the Missis- 
sippi ; that should his expedition prove successful, he would hold Slireveport and the 



APPENDIX. 479 

Red River with Biich force im he mitfltt deem nocewary, nnd rctnm the halanco of hi« 
troops to the iicijfhborliooil of Now Orleiiiin, cotnmrnciHj? no move for the further 
aoquirtition of territorj', imlc't)* it wn.H to nioko llint tlion JicM liv him mon!eft«ily held; 
that it iniffht ho o part f)f tlic Mprinjr rnnipnijfn to muvo ntfiitnHl M")hilo ; that it cer- 
tainly wouM 1)0, if troop.H on^tijfli couKl he nljtainoil to niuko it witlimil oiiih;irriu*»ing 
other movoniont)*; llint New Orleans would bo the point of departure r>r sui'ii an ex- 
pedition ; aliio, tlial I ha"l directed General Steele to njakca real move from Arkansas, 
as »u(?irostcd by hini (Gcnenil Banks), instead of u demonstration, an Steele thought 
advi.sHtile. 

On the aist of March, in addition to the foregoing notiflcation and directions, he 
waa instructed as full )ws : 

"1st If succcwful In ymir oxpodltlon i^lnst Shrevcport, th»t you tarn oTcr the (lofenco of the 
Bed Kivor t.> Ooturnl 8t«>tlo ami the navy. 

"•M. Tlist you nbaniliiii Tejca.i oTitircly, with tJio exception of your hold upon the Rio Grande. 
This can bo held with fmir thcmrmnd men. If thoy will turn their attention lmint><li«toly to fortify- 
ing their position*. At least one-half of the force required for this service might tw taken from 
the ciiK)rc<l troop*. 

"8<l. Uy properly fartifylnp on the Mississippi River, the force to pnard It from Port llodson to 
Naw Orleans can bo reducod to ten thotisanil men. If not to n le«« niiintM-r. .Six thousand more 
would then hold all the rest of the territory necessary to hold until active operations ran again be 
reouineil west of the river. Accordlnsr to your last return, tlds would ptve you a force of over 
thirty thousand effeetive men with which to move atrainst Mobile. To this I ex[>crt to add five 
thou'sAnd men frmii Mi.ssoiirl. If, however, you think the force here stated too small to hohl the 
territory roirardeil as neoo>,'*ary to holil possession of, I would sav concentmtc at least Iwenty-flve 
thousand men of your prt>sont command for operations acnl'i-t Nf >bile. With these and sm h aildl- 
tions as I can five you from elsewhere, loso no time in makiii;: a ilemonstratlon. to bo followeil by 
an attack upon Mobile Two or more iron-clads will bo ordered to roi>ort to Admiral K.nrrairnt. 
This cives iiltn a strong naviil tleet with which to co-operate. You c«n make your own arranite- 
ments with the admiral for his co-operation, and solect your own line of approach. .My own Mem 
of Uie matter is that l'asoiu;oula shoulil b« your biso ; but, from your long service in the Gulf De- 
partment, you will know best about the matter. It Is intended that your movements shall bo oo- 
operative with movements elsewhere, and you esnnot now start too s<H)n. All I woulil now a<Id la, 
that yon c<immenco the concentration of your forces at once. Preserve a profound secrecy of what 
you Intend doing, and start at the earliest possible moment 

"U. 9. Oaajrr, Lieutenant-QeoenL 

*• SlajOB-OaxKBAL N. P. Baxks." 

Major-General Meado was instrnctcd that Lee's army would be his objective point : 
that wherever Lee went ho would go also. For his movement two plans prescntea 
themselves : One to cross the Kiipidan below Lee, movinijr by his right flank ; the 
other above, moving by his left. Each presented advantjiges over the other, with 
corresponding objections. By crossing aoove, Lee would be cut ofiF from all chance 
of ipn'iring Kichmond or going north on a raid. But if we took this route, all we did 
would have to be done whilst the rations wo started with held out ; besides, it sepa- 
rated us from Butler, so that he could not be directed how to co-operate. If wo took 
the other route, Brandy Station could be used as a base of supplies until another waa 
secured on the York or James rivers. Of tliese, however, it was decided to take the 
lower route. 

The following letter of instruction was addressed to Major-Gcneral B. ¥. Butler : 

" FoBT Mojfaoa, Yk, April 8, 1944. 

"Oejiiiral— In the sprine campaign, which It Is desirable shall commenco at as early a day as 
practicable, it Is proiK>8e<l to have oo-operative action of all the annlea In the Qold, as far as this 
object can b<> aermnfiluhed. 

"It will n"* ' ' • I unite our armies Into two or three larKo ones to act as so many anits, 

owing to til.- -ity of holding on to tho territorv alre.s<ly taken from the eueiny. But 

generally sp- ■ Trtlon can be practically effecte<l by armies moving to the interior of 

tho enemy'-" i.j .i. ii...ii tho territory they have to guariL By such movement they interpose 
themselves betweon the enemy ami the country to bo guarded, thereby reducing lli.' nuiiiber necos- 
•ary to pmrd lin|H>rtiint [Miinls, or at least occupy the attention of a part of tho enemy's force, if no 
greiater ohj»>cl Ls g»lne<I. Leo's army and Richmond being tho ere.tU'r objecLs towards winch our 
attention must bo directed In the next campaign. It Is desirable to unite all tlie force we can against 
them. The neci-ssitv of covering Washingti>n with the .\rmy of tho Potomac, ami of covering 
your department with your army, makea It lm(><*siblo to unite those forces at the tH-gmnlii; of any 
muvo. I protMrv. lherefi>re, wliat c<imea nearest this of any thing that seems pr.ACticable ; The 
Army of the Potomac will a<-t from its present base, Leo's army bvinic the objective ^Kilnt You 
will c<)IIe«-t all the forces from your command that cin bo spare<'l for earrison .luty — I shoald say 
not le*s than tw.nly thousand effective men— to operate on the south side of .lames River, Rich- 
mond t>elng yiitir ,.f,j..ctlvo jMiint To the force you alrexly ha\e will be addo<l aboit ten thousand 
men from ^o!lth Carolina, under M^or-Oeneral Olllmore, who will command Ibem In peraoo. 
Mi^or-Oeneral \V. K Smith Is onlered to report to yoo, to command the troops sent Into the field 
f^um youx own department 



480 GRANT AND HTS CAMPAIGNS. 

'•General Gillmore will be ordered to report to yon at Fortrees Monroe, with all the troop? on 
iransport-s t.y the Ibth iiisiaut, or aa soon tbereafter as practicable. ■ Should you not receive noiice 
by that time tn move, ymi will make Such disposition of them and your other forces as you m*y 
deem beat calculated V deceive the enemy as to the real move to be made. 

" When you are notified to move, take City Point with as much force as possible. Fortify, or 
rather intrenih, at once, and concentrate all your trooi>s for the field there as rapidly as you can. 
From City Point directions cannot be given at this time for your further movements. 

"The fact that has already been stated— that is. that Richmond is to be your objective point, 
and that there is to be co-operation between your force and the Army of the Potomace— must b« 
your guide. This indicates the necessity of your holding close to the south bank of the Jamet 
Biver as you advance. Then, should the enemy be forced into his intronchments in Hicbmond, 
the Army of the Potomac would follow, and by means of transports the two armies would become 
a unit 

" All the minor details of your advance are left entirely to your direction. If, however, you 
think it practicable to use your cavalry south of you, so as to cut the railroad about Hick's Ford 
about the time of the general advance, it would be of immense advantace. 

" You will please forward for my information, at the earliest practicable day, all orders, details, 
and instructious you may give for the execution of this order. 

"U. 8. Geajtt, Lieutenant-GeneraL 

"Majob-Qenzeal B. F. Btn'LEB." 

On the 16th these instructions were substantially reiterated. On the 19th, inorderti 
secure full co-operation between his army and that of General Meade, he was informed 
that I expected him to move from Fort Monroe the same day that General Meade 
moved from Culpepper. The e.\aet time 1 was to telegraph him as soon as it ,waB 
fixed, and that it would not be earlier than the 27tli of April ; that it was my intention 
to fight Lee between Culpepper and Richmond, if he would stand. Should he, how- 
ever, fall back into Kichmond, I would follow tip and make a junction with his (Gen- 
eral Butler'.s; army on tlie James River; that, could I be certain he would be able to 
invest Riciimond on the south side, so as to have his left resting on the James, above 
the citv. I would form the junction there ; that circumstances might make this course 
advisable anyhow; that he should use every e.\ertion to secure looting as far up the 
south side of the river as he could, and as soon as possible after the receipt of orders 
to move ; that if he could not carry the city, he should at least detain as large a force 
as possible. 

In co-operation with the main movements against Lee and Johnston, I was desirous 
of using all other troops necessarily kept in departments remote from the fields of im- 
mediate operations, and also those kept in the background for the protection of our 
extended lines between the loyal States and the armies operating agiuust them. 

A very coii.siderable force, under command of Major-General Sigel, was so held for 
the protection of West Virginia, and the frontiers of Maryland and Pennsylvania. 
Whilst tliese troops could not be withdrawn to distant fields without expo.-'ing the 
North to invasion by comparatively small bodies of tlie enemy, they could act directly 
to their front, and give better protection tlian if lying idle in garrison. By such a 
movement they would either compel the enemy to detacii largely for the protection of 
his supplies and lines of communication, or he would lose them. General Sigel was 
therefore directed to organize all his available force into two expeditions, to move 
from Beverly and Charleston, under command of Generals Ord and Crook, against 
the .Eu.-<t Tennessee and Virginia Railroad. Subsequently, General Ord having been 
relieved at his own request. General Sigel was instructed, at his own suggestion, to 
give up the exjjedition by Beverly, and to form two columns, one under Gener^ 
Crook, on tlie Kanawha, numbering about ten thousand men, and one on the Shenan- 
doah, numbering about seven thousand men. The one on the Shenandoah to assemble 
between Cumberland and the Shenandoah, and the infantry and artillery advanced to 
Cedar Creek with such cavalry as could be made available "at the moineiit, to threaten 
the enemy in the Shenandoah Valley, and advance as far as possible ; while General 
Crook would take possession of Lewisburg with part of his force and move down tiie 
Tennessee Railroau, doing as much damage as he could, destroying the New Kiver 
Bridge and salt-works, at Saltville, Va. 

Owing to the weatlier and bad condition of the roads, operations were delayed un- 
til the 1st of May, v hen, every thing being in readiness and the roads favorable, 
orders were given for a general movement of all the armies not later than the 4th of 
May. 

My first object being to break the military power of the rebellion, and capture the 
eneiny's important strongholds, made me desirous that General Butler should succeed 
in his movement against Richmond, as that would tend more than any thing else, un- 
less it were the capture of Leo's army, to aceomnlish this desired n-Milt in the East. 
If it failed, it was my determination, by hard fighting, either to compel Lee to retreat, 
or to so cripple him that he could not detach a large force to go north, and still retain 
enough for the defence of Richmond. It was well understood, by both Generals But- 



APPENDIX. 481 

lor Bnd Mcndc, bcforo ^tftrtinjf on the canipiii);n, that it was my intention to pnt both 
Ihfir iinniurt (ioiith of tho .Intin;« Uivcr, in case of tiiiliiro to <le^l^ov Leo without it. 

But'orc jriviiikf (ii'ticm! liiittcr liiit iii.->triu'ti>>n'«, I vi^itcil liii.i ut Vort Monrof, niul in 
coiivur^uiiKii pMiiitctI mil iiM- ai'iiurctit iiii|»>rciiii<'<- of (fcttirijf |ii).isf.«!<i"ii of rutLT.->lMirtf, 
ami <Ji-r<lroj ill^' rnilroad coiiiiiniiuoittioii us far .H'nith U!* |>o,'>.'«ili|c. Ik'lit-viii^, liowcvur, 
ill thu |>riiciioahility of cnptiirint; liiciiinuinl iiiiluMn it wu.h ro-cti forced, I iiuiilu that tho 
ohjoctivo (mint of his opvration.s. As tlio Army of tlio Potonmo won to iiii>vu hiiiiul- 
tuiiuoii>ly with liiiii, l.cu couM not thiaeli troiii hi.-* iiriny with Hafuty, and tho ciieniy 
dill iiol hiivu troop!* uIm-wIiitu to hriiiif t<> the dufvncu of llio city in tiiiiu to meet ft 
ruiiid iiiuvciiiciit Iroiii tlic nortli of Juiiich Kivcr. 

1 iiuiy iiuru Ktatc tiiiit, coiiiiiiaii'lin^ all ilie uriiiic.« m* I di<l, I tried, as far n>< possihlc, 
to leave General Meiide m indcpeiKleiil eoiiiinund of tlie Army of the I'Dtoriiur. My 
iiisiructioiis for that armv wiTe all throu^'h him, and were ^'eiieral in thejr nature, 
leaviiitf all tiio details and the cxt'Ciltion to him. The campai>;iis that follc>sved pruvuu 
him to he the ri^lit man in the ritflit place. His cominuiidintr always in the prescnco 
of an otiii-er superior to iiim in niiik, hits drawn from ^lim much of thai |int)lic atten- 
tion tlial his zeal and ability eiilille him to, uud which ho would otherwise have re- 
ceived. 

The movement of the .Vrmy of tho Potomac commenced e.nrly on tlie rnoriiinfr of 
the 41 h ol .May, under llie iiiime liate direction and orders of Vlajor-Geiieral .Meade, 
i)ursuiint to instructions, hetore iiitfht, the wiiolu army wa-* across the Kapulan ^the 
fifth an. I Si.vtii corps crobsiiiff at Geriimnia Ford, and the Second Corp" at United 
Stjites ford, ihe cavalry, umkr Maj.ir-Geiierul Sheridan, movinijf In advance), with 
tlie gn-ater p;irt of its trains, iiiiiiil>eriiiir ahout four tiiousaml wa^'ons, niietinjif with 
but .-li>:lit opposition. The avcrnve tlistance travelled bv the troo|>s tliat day wa,1 
about twelve miles. This 1 retfuriUd a.-> a v'reut success, aiul it removed tVom my mind 
the most serious apprehensions I ha<l eniertaiiied, tliat of crossinj; the river in tho 
face of an active, larjife, well-appointed, and ahly coiiimanded army, and how so largo 
a tniin was to he carried throiijrli a luslile country, and protected. Kiirly on tlio ."itli, 
the advance corps (the Filth, Miijor-tieiieriil (i. K. Warren commandiiiv'i mit and en- 
gaged the eneiiiy outside his iiitreiichmeiits near .Mine Kun. The battle nigcil t'lirioiisly 
all day, the whole army being brought into the tight as tiust as the corps coidd be got 
upon the Hehl, which, considering the density of the forest and narrowness of the 
roads, w.is done with commendable promptness. 

General liurnsido, with iho Ninth t.'orp^, w:is, nt the time tlie Army of the Potomac 
moved, lell with the bulk oI" h\^ corps ut the crossing of the Kappiihuniiock Kiver and 
Alexandria Kuilroad, holding the road back to Hull Kun, with instrucUons not to move 
until lie received notice that u crossing of tlie Kapi>run was secured, but to move 
promptly as soon as such notice waa received. This crossing he was apprized of on 
the atiernoon of the 4lh. By six o'clock of tho morning of the 6ih, he was leading 
his corps into action near the Wilderness tavern, some of his troops haUng inarched 
a distance of over thirty miles, crossiiiij both the Knppahaniiock and Kupidan rivers. 
Considering limt a large proportion, probanly two thirds of his coinmainl, was com- 
posed of new troops, unaceiisioined to marches, and carrying the uccouirementd of a 
boldier, this was a remarkable march. 

The battle of the Wihlerness wius renewed by u9 at five o'clock on tho morning of 
tho 6tli, and continued with unabated fury until darkness sot in, each army holding 
fuibsUtntiiilly tlie same position that they had on the evening of the 5th. .\tier dark, 
the enemy matie a feeble attempt to turn our ri^ht tlank, capturing several hundred 
prisoners, ami creating consiileruble cont'usion. But the promptness of (teiieral .Sedg- 
wick, wiio was personally present, and coiniminding that part of our line, soon re- 
formed It and restore"! order. Un the morning of the 7th, reconuois->ances show-ed 
that the enemy had fallen behind his intrenched lines, with pickets to tho front, cov- 
ering a part ol tho battle-Held. From this it was evident to my mind that the two 
days' di^liting had Kitistied liim of his inability to further maintain the contest in the 
opttii tifid, notwithstanding his advanWige id' |>osiiion, and that he would wait an 
■ituck behind his Works. 1 ilierefore determined to push on, and put my whole forco 
between him and Kichmoiid ; and orders were at once in.<ued for a movement by his 
right tiunk. On the nitfhi of tho Ttli, the march was cummenced towards S|>ott.syl- 
vunia Courthouse, the Fil'ih Corps moving on tho most direct road. But the enemy 
having become appnzeil of our muvcment, and having the shorter line, was eiiuhled 
to reach tliero llrst. On tho »th, Genenil Warren met a force of the enemy, which 
had been sent out to oppose and dehiy his advance, to gain time to fortify the line 
taken up at .*»pottsylvania. This force was steadily driven boci* on tho main force, 
within the recently constructed works, at\er cuiisidernble dtditinc, resuiliiig in severs 
loss to both sides. On the moniing of the 'Jth, General Sheritltiti started on a raid 
•gainst the enemy 'a luioa of comiuuuicatiou wiih Kichiuoud. The 9th, lOlh, and lllh 

81 



482 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

were spent in manoeuvring and fisrlitine, without deci:*ive results. Amonp the killed 
ou the ytli was tliat able and di>tiuguisht-d i-oldier Major-General John Sl•d^'wi^.•k, 
coniinuiidinK the Sixth Army Corps. Mujur-tieiieral H. G. NVri>:lit succeeded liini in 
coniaiaiid. Early ou tlie iiM^niiii}; of the l:itli, a ^.aiieral attack was made on the 
enemy in position. The Second Corps, Major- Geutral Hancock cMiiniunditig, carried 
a salient of his line, capturing most of Johnston's division of Ewtir«> Corps and 
twenty pieces of artillery, liut the resistance was »o obstinate tliat tiie advantage 
gained did not prove decisive. The 13th, lUii, loth, 16th, 17th, and isih, were coa- 
Buined ill mancjeuvring and awaiting the arrival of re-enforcements from Washington. 
Deeiiiiiitr it impracticable to make any furtlier attack upon tlie enemy at Spottsylvania 
Courtliouse, orders were issued on the l^th with a view to a movement to the North 
Anna, to commence at twelve o'clock on the nijrht of tlie lyih. Late in the afternoon 
of the lyth, Ewell's Corps came out of its works on our extreme riglit Hank ; but the 
attack wa-, promptly repiil.-ed, with heavy loss. This delayed tlie movement to the 
iS'ortli Anna until the night of tlie 21st, when it was commenced. But the enemy 
again having the shorter Hue, and being in pos.-e.ssion of the main roads, was enabled 
to reach the Morth Anna in advance of\is, and took position behind it. The tilth 
Corps reached the Nortli Anna on the afternoon of tlic 23d, closely followed by the 
Si.xth Corps. The Second" and Ninth Corps got up about the same time, the Second 
holding llie railroad-bridge, and the Kinth lying between that and Jericho Ford. 
General Warren eflected a crossing the same afternoon, and got a position without 
much oi'posilion. Soon after getting into position he was violently attacked, but re- 
pulsed tlie enemy with great slaugliter. On the 25th, General Sheridan rejoined the 
Army of the Fotomac from the raid on which he started from Spottsylvania, having 
destroyed the depots at Beaver Dam and Ashland stations, four trains of cars, largo 
supplies of rations, and many miles of railroad-track; recaptured about four hundred 
of our men on their way to Kichmond as prisoners of war ; met and defeated the 
enemy's cavalry at Yellow Tavern ; carried tlie tir.st line of works around Kiclimond 
(but tinding the second line too strong to be carried by assault), recrossed to the north 
bank of tlie Chickahominy at Meadow's Bridge under heavy tire, and moved by a de- 
tour to liaxall's Landing, on the James Kiver, wliere he communicated with General 
Butler. This raid had' the eli'ect of drawing oil' the whole of the enemy's cavalry 
force, and niaklng it comparatively easy to guard our trains. 

General Builer moved his main force up the James Kiver, in pursuance of instruc- 
tions, on the 4th of May, General Gillmore having joined with the Tenth Corps. At 
the same time he sent a force of one thousand eight hundred cavalry, by way ot \\ est 
Point, to form a junction with him wherever he might get a foothold, and a torce of 
three thousand ciivalrv, under General Kautz, from Sutlolk, to operate against the 
road south of Betersbilri,' and Kichmond. On the 5th, he occupied, without oppo- 
sition, both City I'oiiit and Bermuda Hundred, his movement being a complete sur- 
prise. On the tjth, he was in position with his main army, and commenced intrench- 
ing On the 7th, he made a reconnoissance against the Petersburg and Kichmond 
Kaiiroad, destroying a portion of it after some lighting. Ou the yth, he telegraphed 
as follows : 

" TTkapquartebs nkab Bf.kmcda L\sDrao, May 9, 1S64. 

'• Oar onerRtlon'^ mav be summed up in a few w.^r.is. With ..n.- thousand soven liundred cavalry 
wehHvea.lvaiio.Ml lu. 111.- IVninsula, lorcvd ilie Chiokahomiiiy. ami have salely l.ro :eht iho.n to 
our present [losition. These were colored cavalry, and are now holding our advance pickets 

'""OenenU KauSwitli three thousand cavalry from Suflfolk. on the same day with our movemont 
up .lames Ulvcr, f..rce,l the Hlaol;water. burned the railroad-bridge at btoney Creek, below 1 eters- 
burc. cultins in two Hoauregnrd's O.rce at tliat point. .,-,,, , , 

"We have landed here, intrenclie.l ourselves, de^^troyed many miles of rs Iroad. and got a po- 
sition which, with proper supplies, we cau hold out again=t the whole of Leo » aruiy. 1 nave 

°'-rau"l'.ard.'wUl'a*iar<:e portion of his force, was left 8onth hy the cutting of "'o rHtlroa-ls^by 

KauU That porth.n which reached Petersburg under Hill I bavo whippe.lt. -lay, killing and 

■woun.ling many, and takinij many prisoners, iiOer a severe an.I well-conte.-te.l ni:ht. „,^„„ ... 

••General liriut will not be troubled with any further re-enforcementa to Lee lr..in Beauregard* 

^""'^' '• Benjamin F. Bctlkr, .Major-Oeneral. 

" Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War." 

On the evening of the 13th aii.l mornin? of the Uth, he carried a portion of the 
enemy's first line of .lefeiice at Drury's Hlutf, or F..rt Darling, with smal loss, llie 
time thus consumed from the tilh lost to us the benelit <d' the suri-rise and capture of 
Kichm.uid an.I IVtcrsburi?, enabling, as it di.l, Beauregard to collect his loose torce.., 
in North and South Carolina, and bring them to the defence ol those places. On Uio 



APPENDIX. 4S3 

Ifith, the enemy attack cl Oenerul Riiflcr in hi* position in front of DruryV RlnflT. llo 
W11.H f.irci'd hiwk, or drew t»iiok, into hi.* intr<-noliin<Mitn hctwoon Iho fork* of tho 
JatncK iin<l Apii'^nnitlox rivorj*, tlio enemy iiilrurx'iiini; nCrniiKiy in his front, tlnit 
covt;rinir I"" ruilroiuU. tho city, nii'l nil thui wa-* vnliiithlo to hitn. Hi* nrmv. th«'ro- 
forc, tli<>u);h in 11 position of ureiit Nooiiritv, witt iv* eomplelt'ly nhul "tf from further 
opormioiis itirectly ii^iiinKt Kichmoml a* it it hii>l been in a hottio ntroni^iy c<jrke*i. It 
ruijnired hula compunitively ftnsiil firco of tho enemy to iiohi it thnm. 

On tho I'.'th, (teneriil Kaiitz, with lii-« oiiviilry, wu'* «liirte(l ■■ ' ' ' 'he 

Diinvilie Kiiilroiid, which lie ctriick nt »'i>iiltii-l.|. P.iwhiitnn, nn I li>- 

(itrtiyin^ tiieni, the niiiroacl-track, two t'r('ilrilt-trilin^•, iitid i>no . ■ "jT 

with hirjfc quantitio!* of C"mmis.Hary and "thur jttnri"* ; thiMifc, croa-*,:,^ i> 11..; >^i.iih- 
side road, struck it at Wilson's, W'elUville, iinii Hiack and White n'ation*, di-'lri'yinjf 
tho road and Htutiou-houdcs ; Ihouco he proceuJud to City i'oint, wliiuh ho reitchod oil 
the 18th. 

On llie 19th of April, and prior to tho movement of Ooneral Bntlor. the enemy, 
■with u land force nndor General Hoke and an iron-clad ran>, attacked I'lynoiith, 
N. C, comnianded bv (tciicral II. NV. Wc^^ieU, atid our ^iin)>iat-« tlieri- ; a'id. after 
Revere ttifhtin^, the place w:n carried by a-'.'«aiilt, and the entire trarri!<on an<l arina- 
niont captured. Tiie ifunboat Sinitiitluld w i:» sunk, and the .Miami disabled. 

The army ncnt to operate a^'aiiKt Kichmotiil havini; hermetic.illy itcalc'i itself up at 
Bermuda Hundre'l, tiie enemy was enabled to brinir tho ino^t, if not all, the rc-cn- 
f ircemeut-* brouirht from the Soutli by Heaureifard iiifainst tlie Army of tho I'ototnao. 
In addition Vt tliis re-enforcement, a verv considerable one, pmhalily not lc*-« thaa 
fifteen thousand men, wa* obtained by calling in tho scattered troops under Breckin- 
rid^^e from the western part of V'iririnia. 

Tlie position of Bermuda Hundred was as easy to dofcn<l a-« it w.^H difficult to op- 
erate from against tho enemy. I detcrmine<l, therefore, to brinx frotn it all available 
forces, leaviiiff enouf;h only to secure what had been i;ainc I ; and acoordiiiirly, on the 
2J I, 1 directed that they bo sent firw.ird, under coiumand of Major-Gencrul \V. F, 
Smith, to join the .Vrmy of the Potomac. 

On tho 24th of .Miy, the Ninth .\rmy Corps, commandoil by Major-Ocnoral A. E. 
Burnside, was assi/ned to the Army of the Potomac, and from thi» tunc forwarl con- 
Htituled a portion of .Major-General .Mua'le's command. 

Findini^tho enemy's po-ition on tlio North .\niia stronsj^^r than either of his pre- 
vious ones, I witlidrow on the niijht of the 'i'ith to tlio north bank of tho North Anna, 
and moved rw Hanovertown to turn tho enemy's position by his riirut. 

Generals Torbert and Mcrritt's divisions of cav:ilry, uii ler Sheridan, and the Sixth 
Cor|>s, led the a Ivance; crossed tlie I'amuiikey Kiver at Hanovertown, afrer consid- 
erable tiiflitinjkf, and on the 2:ith the two divisions of Ciivalry had a severe, but success- 
ful, eni^ai;ement with tho enemy at Haw's shop. On tho 2yth and :30th we advaticed, 
with heavy skirmishing;, to tlio Hanover Courthouse aiul Cold Harbor roa 1, and de- 
veloped the enemy's position north of the Chickah'unitiy. Late on the evening of the 
last day the enemy came out an'l attacked our left, but was repulsed with very con- 
siderable loss. An attack Wiis immediately ordered by General .M'-ade alouif his 
whole line, which resulted iu driving; tho enemy from a part of his intrenched skir- 
mish lino. 

On too 81st, General Wilson's division of cavalry destroyed the railroad-briilijea 
over the South Anna Kiver, atler ilefeatiii>.; tho enemy's cavalry. General Sheridan, 
on the same day, reached Cold Harbor, and held it until relieved by the .Sixth Corpa 
and (teiieral Siiiith''s command, which had just arrived, via W'hite House, from Gen- 
eral Butler's army. 

On the 1st day of June an attack was made nt 5 p. u. by tho Sixth Corps and tho 
troops under General Smith, the other corps bein/ held in readiness to advaiico on tli« 
receipt of orders. This resulted in our carrying; and holdini? the enemy's first line of 
wortvs in front of tlic riifht of the Sixth Corps, aii<l in front of General Smith. Durinjf 
tlie attack the enemy made repeated assaults on each of the corps not eir/aired in the 
main attack, but were repulsed with heavy loss in every instance. That nii^lit he 
made several assaults to reifain what he had' lost in the dav, but faile<l. The -Jd wn 
spent in (fetlinif troops into position for an atttck <->u the ■'i'l. On the 3d of Juno wo 
n;»ain a.ssaulted ttio enemy's works, in tho hope of drivini? him iVom his position. In 
tliis attempt our loss wa.s heavy, while that of the enemy, i hive reason to bolicvo, 
w:u» comparatively li(;ht. It was the only (general attack made from the Itapidan to 
the .lames wtiich did not intlict upon the enemy losses to compensate fi>r our owd 
losses. I would not bo utulerstood as sayinif that all previous attack" re«ultoil in vic- 
tories to our anns, or accomplislied b.s mucli as I had hof>ed iVoin them; Init they in- 
flicted upon the enemy severe losses, which tended, in tho end, to the complete 
overthrow of the rei>elliou. 



484 



GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 



From the proximity of the enemy to liis defeticfs arouiiJ Kichmoirl, it was impos- 
sible, l>y liny flank iiiovenK-nt, to interpcsL- t)..-twe<'n liim and the city. I wiis .still in 
a coiiilicion to either move by liis let'c flunk, anii invest KichinonJ from ihe north 
eide, or eotitinne my move by h'la right flank to tbe south .side of inc James. Wliile 
the former miirlit hiive been better as a eoverin;? for Wiishiniftoii, yet a full survev of 
all the trround satisfied me that it would be ini practicable to liold a line north and eaat 
of Kiehmond that would protect tiie Fredericksburg Kailriiud, a lonjcr, vulnerable line, 
which would exhaust much of our strensftii to iriiard, and ihat would have to be pro- 
tected to supply the army, and would leave open to tlie enemy all liis lines of commu- 
nication on the south side of the James. My idea, from the "start, had been to beat 
Lee'a army north of Richmond, if possible. Then, after destroying his lines of com- 
munication north of the James Kiver, to transfer tlie army to tlie south side, and be- 
Biesje Lee in Kiehmond, or follow him south if he should "retreat. After the battle of 
the \Vildernes<, it was evident that the enemy deemed it of the first importance to run 
1)0 risks with the army he then had. He acted purely on the defensive, behind 
breiLs! works, or feebly on the off nsive immediately in front of them, aijrl where, in 
case of repulse, lie could easily retire behind them. Without a greater sacrifioe of life 
thun I was willing to make, all could not be accomplished that I had designed north 
of Kichmoiul. I therefore determined to conrinue to hold substantially the trronnd 
we then occupied, t.ikins; advantage of any favorable circumstances that miu'lit present 
themselves, until the cavalry could be .sent to Cliarlotiesville and Gordon-ville to 
effectually break up the railroad connection between Richmond and the t>lienandoah 
Valley and Lynchburg ; and, when the cavalrj' got well off, to move the army to the 
Boutii side of tiie James Kiver, by the enemy's right flank, where I felt 1 could cut off 
all his sources of supply, except by the canal. 

On the 7th, two divisions ot cavalrv, under General Sheridan, got off on the expe- 
dition against the Virginia Central kailroad, with iu>tructions to Hunter, whom I 
hoped he would meet near Charlottesville, to join his forces to Sheridan's, and alter 
the Work laid out for them was th orouirlily done, to join the Army of ilie Potomac by 
the route 1 ud down in Sheridan's instructions. 

On the 10th of June, General Butler sent a force of infantry, under General Gill- 
more, and cavalrv, under General Ivautz. to capture Petersburg, if possible, and de- 
stroy the railroaJ and cotnmon bridges across the .Appomattox. The cavalry carried 
the works on the south side, and penetrated well towards the town, but were forced to 
retire, (ieneral Gillmore, flinling the works which he approached very stroni.', and 
deeming an assault impracticable, returned to Bermuda liundred without attempting 
one. 

Attaching gront importance to the possession of Petersburg, I sent back to Bermuda 
Hundred and City Point, General Smith's comm.ind, by water, via the White House, 
to reach there in advance of the Army of the Potomac. This was for the express 
purpose of securing Petersburg before the enemy, becoming aware of our intention, 
could re-enforce the plac;'. 

The movement from Cold Harbor commenced after dark on the evening of the 12th. 
One divisioti of cavalry, under General Wilson, and the Fifth Corps, crossed the 
Chickalnininy at Long Bridge, and moved out to White-Oak Swamp, to cover the 
crossings of the other corps. The advance corps reached James Kivcr, at Wilcox's 
Landin<; and Charles (Jity Courthouse, on the night of the 13th. 

During three lon;r years the Armies of the I'otomac and Northern Virginia had been 
contVoniiiig each other. In tliat time they had Ibught more dc.-perate oattles than it 
probably ever before fell to the lot of two armies to djUi. without materially ciianging 
the vantage trroiind of either. The Southern ]>ress aiul people, wilii more shrewdness 
than wjis di.-played in the North, finding that tliey had failed to capture Washington 
and march on to New York, as they had boasted they would do, assumed that they 
Oiiiv defeii led their cu[>ital an I Soutliern territory. Hence, Aiitietam, Gettysburg, 
aiiJ all the other battles that had bi^eii fought, were by them set down as failures on 
our part, and victories for them. Tiieir army believed this, it produce. 1 a morale 
which could only bo overcome by desperate and continuous hard fightiii!;. The 
battles of the Wilderness, Spott-ylvania, North .\nmi, and Col 1 Haroor, blooily and 
terrible a-< tiiey were on our .-i.le, were even ijlore damairiiii: to the enemy, and so 
crip|>led him as to make him wary ever after of taking tlie otreiisive. His losses in 
men were proliably not so great, owing to the fae; that we were, save in the Wilder- 
n<'ss, almost invariably the atta'.-kinif I'artx ; and when he did attack, it was in the 
open field. The details of tho*e liattles, which, for endurance and bravery on the 
part of the soldiery, have rur dy bucn surpassed, are given in the report of ilajor- 
General .Mo.idc, and the subordinate reports acoompanyiiig it. 

Diirin:; the campaign of forty-three days, from the Rapidan to the James Kiver, the 
army hud to be supplied from an evcr-Bhii'ting base, by wagons, over narrow roads, 



APPENDIX. 485 

thmiitrh a tlcnsclv wooil(»<l onniitry, with a Inok of wlianrca at each now base from 
wliioli to ciiriviniciitly <lii«phBrife vo!«i«<>l«. T<>o inticli croilit cnnnot, therefore, ho 
n»-iirili'(.t to the <|iinrti-riii!i.>t<'r ntxl cominissnry ilc)>Hrtiii<-nt.<t fur thu zoal nidi cfTlcioncy 
clispliiyt-il hy Iheiii. Uinlor thi> Kotivriil oiiporviHion nf the eliii-f nllnrtertnll^ter, Hri);a- 
dier-Cieiiernl H. Iiil'iiIU, thu iruiii!* werem«>lo to occupy nil iho avaihihlu rouJ* helwecn 
tho iinny ami our waUsr-buiio, and but lilUo ditliculty was cxpcrionc«d iii protoctiog 
Ihcm. 

The movemont in tlio Kitnawha and Shenandoah Valleys, under GcncrnI Siijcl, 
comnieiiccd on the flrxt of May. (Jeiienil Crook, who hn<l tho iniiiieiUntc coinniniiil of 
tho Kitnikwhn I'xpciliiioii, divided hii* foree.s into two C'>lutiin'«, trivini; one, coin(Mi<tfd 
of cavalry, to (icneriil Avonli. Tiicy cro!<.Hcd the tnoiiritjiin.-* hy nepurutc routct. 
Averill struck tlio Teiiiu'n.Heo iinil Virvriniu Kiiilron<l, near Wythevillu, on the lf»th, ninl 
proceedinff to Now Kiver iind Chri.Htianshurif. destroyed the rond, Mevenil iinpurturit 
Drid||(cs and depots, ineludinir New River BridifO, forniinij a jiinetion with Crook ut 
Union on the 15th. (.tenerul Si^el moved up tho Shenandoah Vnlify, met the enemy 
at New .Market on tho l.')th, aritl, after a severe on^rai^ement, wan defeated with heavy 
loss, and retired behind Cedar Creek. Not reuardinjf the operations ..f (Jeneral Sit'el 
a.s itatistaotory, I asked his removal from oomunind, and Major-CJeneral iiuntcr was 
appointed to supersede him. His instructions were embrace'! in tho following dbt- 
patches to Major-Genural II. \V. llalleck, cliiof of HUtfof tho army: 

"Near SfoTTSTLVAHiA CouarnocsK, Va., May 20, 1S64. 

*♦♦♦»»♦»♦ 

"The enemy are evMonlly rclylne for siipjille* ercdtly on »noh a« are broncht over the brstich 
rn.iil ninnin;; tlirotuh StnilMtun. On tho Mlmli-. therefore, I think It wi.uM ho t)ettor for Ooneral 
Hunter to move in that ilireclhm; reach St.uinton nnil (ior<lon^ville or Ch«rlott«sville, If h.- <1<k>3 
not meet too much opiMMitlun. If be cnn buM at bay a force equal lu hit uwn, he will be doing 
good service. * ♦ * » 

"XJ. S. Qbaxt, UeQt«nant-QeneraL 

"MaJOR-QeSKRAL n. W. nALLBCK." 

".iRRirno Ford, V», May 2.\ 1S«. 

" If Hunter can poMibly cet to Charlottesville and Lynchbiirc, he shonM do lui, hvini; on the 
country. The railroadx and rnnnl sboiild be destrovi-d beyond po««lt,|llty of n-palrs for weekit. 
Cunpleting this, he could tlnd bis way back to bis original ba-^.-, or from nhont Gordonsville Join 
tbisnrmy. ~ U. S. Qra.nt, Lieuteoaol-OeDcral. 

"MAJoR-GitsiRAL II. W. IIallrck." 

Genend Hunter immediately took up tho offensive, and, movinpup the Shenandoah 
Valley, met the enemy on tho 5th of .June at l'iediri')nt, and, after a battle of ten 
hour.", routed and defeated him, pnpturinif on the lield of battle one thousand five 
hundred men, three pieces of artillery, and tlin-o hundred stand of small-arms. Oq 
tho 8th oCthe same month he forinecl a junction with Oook and Averill at Staunton, 
from which place ho moved direct on Lynchburir, vpi Lexinirton, which place ho 
reached and invested on the 16th day of June. Uj» to this time he was very success- 
ful ; and but for the liitliculty of takinir with Inm sufficient ordiiunco stores over so 
lonp a inarch, throuirh a hostile country, he would, no doubt, havo aiptured that, to 
the enemy an important point. The destruction of tho enemy's supplies an*l manu- 
factories was very prcat. To meet this movement under General Hinter, General 
Lee sent a force, perhaps equal to a corps, a part of which reached Lynchbur/ a short 
time belbro Hunti-r. Al'ter some skirnii-'hinif on the 17th and Hth, Genenil Hunter, 
owiijij to a want of ammunition to irivo battle, retired from bet'ore tho i«liu-c. Unfor- 
tunately, this want of ammunition lull him no choice of routo for his return but by 
Way of Kanawha. This lost to us tlie use of his troops for several weeks from the de- 
fence of tho North. 

Ha<l (tenenil Hunter moved by way of Charlottesville, instead of I.^xln(jton, aa his 
instructions cont'-mnhai'l, he wonl.l havn lM>en in a position to havo covered tho She- 
nauiloah Vail' ■• ' ' ' ! • •' ' mot have si-.'ined to mil iHijcr 

it. If it did 1 I'lee of the .James Uiver Ciinal. 

on the main li '-' and the force sent lor its lie- 

fenco. I have u»\cr ;.n»eu c\ci.|':.«<ii i.»;uo uin.r.4;.'iiis >>f (icneral Hunter, aii'l am not 
now disposed to tlnd lauli with liiiii, for I have no iloubt ho aete.l within wh;it ho con- 
ceived to bo the spirit of his instmotions and the intorcsia of the service. The promp- 
titude of his inoveiiiciila and his gallantry should ontitle him to tho ouuimcndutioD of 
his co;;nf^^*. 

J ■ • . ■ ■ -^ •- ^ - _ - . ■ , . ^ 

J. a 

I;>N .. , - _ . • o 

crossing ut' liia l>aiuucu vi inu uriny wus rupidiy puahud I'urward by buUt briuj^o and 
ferry. 



486 GRANT A^D HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

After the crossing; liaJ coiiuiienceil, I proeeeJe'l by steamer to Bermuda Hundred 
to K'^L- tiie iiece.-.-ary ordurs lor tiie itiMin.-diuie ca|.>ture of I'etersburg. 

liie iiistriiclioud to (iciiur.il Builer \vure verbal, and wure for liiui to send General 
Siniiii innuciiately, tliaC niglit, witii all tlie troups lie could give him without >aLTili- 
ciug the position lie then lic-ld. 1 told hini that I would return at once to the Army of 
ttic I'oioinac, hastcu its cros.->in;5, and tlirow it forwani to h'ctersburg by divi.-ious aa 
rajiiuly as it could be done; that we could re-eiiibice our armies lUDre rapidiy thero 
than tlie enemy could bring troops against us. Geneml Sinitli got otl'as directed, and 
Confronted the enemy's pickets near l''eter.--burg betore dayliglit next uiorniiig, but 
for some rea^on, that 1 have never been able saiisfactorly to undcr.-tand, did not get 
ready to iis:-ault his main lines until near sundown. Then, with a part of liis coni- 
Iiiand only, lie inaie tne ;u->sault, and c.irried tlie lines northea^t of I'eter.^burg from 
tlie Appomattox Kiver, for a distance of over two and a lialf iniies, capturing tifteeU 
pieces ol' artillery and tliree hundred prisoners. Tins woiS ai>out seven F. M. Between 
tne line tiiiis captured and Petersburg there were no other works, and there was no 
evidence that the enemy had re-eiiiorced Petersburg with a single brisrude from any 
source. The night was clear — the moon shining briglitly— and favorable to further 
operations. General Hancock, with two divisions of the second Corps, reached Gen- 
eral Smith just after dark, and otiered the service of these troops ii'^ he (Siniin; niiglit 
wisli, waiving rank to the named coniinaiider, wuom lie naturally supposed knew best 
the position of aliairs, and what to do with ilie troops, lint instead of taking these 
troops, and pushing at once into rctersbiirg, he requested General Hancock to relieve 
a part of his line in the captured works, winch was done before midnight. 

By the time 1 arrived the next morning the enemy was in force. An attack was or- 
dered to be made at six o'clock tiiat evening by the troops under Sniitii and tne Sec- 
ond and Nintli corps. It required until that time for llie Ninth Corps to get up and 
into jiosiiion. Tne attack was made as ordered, and tne ligiiting continuea witn but 
little intermission until six o'clock tiie next morning, and resulted in our carrying the 
advance and some of tiie main works of the enemy to tlie right (our left; of those pre- 
viously captured by General Smith, several pieces of artillery, and over four hundred 
prisoners. 

The Fifth Corps having got up, the attacks were renewed and persisted in with 
great vigor on the 17th and IStli, but only resulted in forcing tne enemy into an inte- 
rior line, iroin which he could not be dislodged. The advantuiics of position gamed 
by us were ver\ great. The army Uicn proceeded to envelop Petersburg towards the 
Southside Kailroad, as far as possible without attacking tbrtiticatioiiS. 

On the tith the enemy, to re-enforce PetersDurg, withdrew iroin a part of his in- 
trenchment in front of Bermuda Hundred, expectiiii:, no doubt, to get troops from 
iiortii of the James to take the place of those withdrawn before we could discover it. 
General Butler, taking the advantage of this, at once moved a force on the railroad 
between Petersburg and Uichinond. As soon as 1 was apprized of the advantage thus 
gained, to retain it 1 ordered two ili visions of the Sixth Corps, General Wrigiit com- 
inaiKling, tliat were embarking at Wilcox's Landing, under orders for City I'oiut, to 
rejiort to General Butler, at Bermuda Hundred, of which General Butler was noti- 
tie>.l, and the importance of holding a position in advance of his present line urged 
upon him. 

About two o'clock in the afternoon General Butler was forced back to the line the 
enemy liad withdrawn from in the morning. General Wright, with Ids two divisions, 
joined General Hutler on the forenoon of the 17tli, the latter still holding with a strong 
picket-line tlie enemy's works. But instead of putting these divisions into the ene- 
my's works to hold them, he permitted them to halt aiul rest some distance in the 
rear ot iiis own line. Between four and live o'clock in the afternoon the enemy at- 
tacked and drove in his pickets and reoccupied his old line. 

On the night of the 2Uth and morning of tiio 'Jlst a lodj.'ment was elTected by Gen- 
eral Butler, with one brigade of infantry, on ifie north bank of the James, at Deep 
Bottom, and connected the ponton-bridge with Bermuda Hundred. 

On the lath. General Sheridan, on his return from his cx|>edition against the Vir- 
ginia Central Kailroad, arri\e<l at the White House just as tlie enemy s cavalry was 
about to attack it, and compelleil it to retire. The result of this expedition w:is, that 
General Sheridan met the cneinys cavalry near Trcvilliaii Station, on the morning of 
the llth of June, whom he attacked, and after an obstinate contest drove from the 
Held in complete rout. He left his dead and nearly all his wounded in our hands, and 
about four hundred prisoners and several hundred horses. On tne Pith he destroyed 
the railroad from Trevillian Station t" Louisa Courthouse. This occupied until three 
o'clock p. M., when he a Ivanced in the direction of GordonsviUe. He found the ene- 
my re-enforced by int'antry, behiiitl well-constructed ritle-pits, about live miles from 
the latter place, and too strong to successfully assault. On the extreme right, how- 



AITKNDLS. 4.^j 

ever, lii» reserve brijrmlo cixrrio-l tlio eiuinv's works tw-i.-c, nrid wa« twice ilrivcn thcro- 
froiii l>y iiilaiitry. Niiflit i-lo-ci llio ooiiti-.Ht. N..I Imwinf nuttlcieiit uiiimniiilion to 
coiiliiuio tlio i'ii^:n)ireiin;iil, iui<i liis uniiiiiiLs WoiriK witliuul lurajrc iiliu couniry Inrnish- 
\u\i but iiit'urior ^'ruziiik.'), uiiJ heiiriii); iiu(liiii); I'rotn (niiurul lluiilur, )io witii<lruur hiit 
cuiiiiiiuihI t» lliu iioriii tiiilo ot° the Nurtli Anna, uinl coiuineneuil liin return iiiurch 
reiicliiMK' Wliite /loll^ti lit llie lime licforu !«tute<l. Al'ifr breukintj 'i|' '''•-■ ''"'I'l't ul that 
plaoc, lie niuvu^l to tiie Janius Kivcr, wliioli lie reiiclnMl salcly utter lieas \ li^^hiimf. llu 
coninieiK'«-il cri>r«iiiiiK on the a.'iiii, near Fori i'uwliutuii, wiiiiuul lurilier inolentuliou, 
and rej' ined tliu Army <il the rutonntc. 

On tue 'JJ.i, liti.erii! Wilson, witli hi.-i own division of cavalry of the Army of the 
rotiinnie, aiul General K;iutz':< division of cavalry ol the Army "of the Jiimi-.*, moved 
ui^ain.xt the emniy'.-* railroaiU sontli <>f Kiclimand. Slrikim^ lAe WeMon ICaiiioud at 
KeamV Suiiun, lle^tr(■ylnJf the depirl and several miles ot' tiiu road and tlic S'lutlisido 
road ah.Mit lilteon nnle.s fruni I'etershiir);, to near Nottoway SUition, where lie met 
and defeated a I'uroe ol'the enemy's cavalry, he reached HiirkeMvillu Station on the nf- 
tcrnoon «>! the J-5d, and from there destroyed the Duiivillu Kailroarl to ICoanokc Hriilffe, 
a di»Umce of twcntylivo miles, where he found the enemy in force, an<l in a |M>!<itiou 
from wliich lie could not di:>lod^u him. He then commenced hii* return muroli, and 
on the 2?tli met the enemy'!* cavalry in force at the Wildon Kailroa4l cr'>.-..<<in(f of 
Stoncy (^ reek, wlicre he had a severe but not decisive eni;ii);enient. Thence he inudca 
detour trom Ins lel't, with a view of reaolnii); Iteam'rt .Station (sii|>jiosin>; it to ijc in our 
possession;. At this jilace he was met by tlie eiiemy'.s cavalry, supported by intuiitry, 
and forced to retire, witli the 1os.h of his artillery ami trains. In this last encounter, 
General Kaiitz, with a part of his command, became »e|>arated, and made his way 
into our lines. Gener.d Wilson, with the remainder of his force, succeeded in cros«ing 
the Nottoway Kiver and comiiij^ in safeiy on our left and rear. The dama;,'e to the 
enemy in this e.\pe<.Iitiou more tlian compensated fir the losses we suatainea. it sev- 
ered ail connection l>y railroad with Hichmond for several weeks. 

With a view of cutting the enemy'.s railroail troia near Kichmoiid to the Anna Riv- 
ers, and makin|j: him wary of the situation of his army in the Shenandoan, and, 
in the event of failure in tlii.'*, to take advantage of his neces.sary withdrawal of 
troops from i'etersi>ur)f, to explode a mine that liad been prepared in front of the 
Ninth Corps and assault the enemy's lines at tliat place, on the iii^lit of the ^tJlh 
of July the Second Corps and two divisions of the Cavalry corps and Kautz's cavalry 
Were crossed to the north bank of the James liiver and joined the force (iuaeral 
Butier had there. On the :i7th the enemy was driven from his intrenched position, 
with the loss of four pieces of artillery. On the 28lh our lines Were extended 
from Deep lioitoui to New Market road, but in getting this position were attacked by 
the enemy in heavy force. The tighting lasted for several hours, resulting in con- 
Eiderablc lo.ss on both sides. Tiie first object of this move having failed, by rea- 
son of the very large force thrown there by the enemy 1 determined to take advan- 
tage of the diversion made by assaulting I'etersburg oefore he could get his for-'O 
buck there. One divLsion of the Second Corps was withdrawn on the night of the 
SSth, and moved during the iiiirht to the rear of the Eighteenth Corps, to relievo that 
corps in the line, that it might be fool-loose in the assault to bo ma<ie. The 
other two divisions of the Second Corps and Slieridaii's cavalry were cros.sed over on 
the night of the 2i)lh and moved in front of I'etersour;;. On the morning of the 
80th, heiween lour and live o'clock, the mine was sprung, blowing up a haltcry 
and most ol a regiment, and the advance of the a.s.sauiting column, formed of the NiulO 
Corps, iminc<lialeiy took pos.sessiun of the crater made Ity the explosion, and tlio line 
for .tome distance to the right and left of it, and a detached line in ir<>iit of it, 
but for some cuiuse failed to advance promptly to the ridge beyond. Had they 
done ihis, 1 have every reason to believe tiiat I'etersburg would have tallcii. Other 
troops were immediately pushed forward, but the tiiiiu consumed in gettiii:,' tlieiii up 
cnaliled the enemy to rally from his surprise (^ winch hud been complete', and get 
forces to this pomi for its defence. The ca|>lured line thus held being untenable, and 
of no ad vantage to us, the troops were witlulruwn, but not without heavy lo^s. Thus 
terminated in disaster what promised to bo ine most itucco»sful asAauli of the cam- 
paign. 

Immedi.itely upon the enemy's ascertaining that General Hunter w.x-i rrtr.v, ring from 
Lynchburg t*y tue way of Kanawha Kiver, thus laying the > n open 

for raids into Maryland and I'ennsylvaniu, he returned ivr- . down 

that valley. As m-mhi as this niovemenl of the enemy u.-- iieneral 

Hunter, who hud reached the Kanawha Hiver, was directed to mow Ins tro..|is with- 
out delay, by river uii<( railroad, to llur|H.r's Ferry ; but owing to llio dilHeu ty iif uav- 
igution by reiksou of low water and breaks in the railr>a<l, great de.ay Wus experienced 
iu getting ineie. It became uecvssary, therefore, to tlud uLher troops to cueck this 



488 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

movement of the enemy. For this purpose the Sixtli Corps was taken from the ar- 
nlies openttintr again>l" Kichiiioii<], to whicli wu-s uddej ihe Niiieteenih Corpj, tln-n 
fortunately bt-giiming to arrive in Ilunipton ICoads from tlie (-riilf DL-parttuL-nt, un- 
der order.-? it>t>(ied iinmediuCely after tlie ascert^iinment of tlie result of the lied Kiver 
expedition. Tlie garrisons of Baltimore and \S'ushingion were at tliis lime made 
up of heavy-artillery re^;imenl^i, hundred days' men, and detiicliment.s from the 
invalid corps. One divi>ion under command of General Kicketts, of the Sixth Corps, 
Was ^enl to Baltimore, and tlie remaining two divi>ions of tlie Sixth Corps, under 
General Wright, were subseiiuently sent to Wushiuinon. On the 3d of July the 
enemy apjiriiaclied Martin>burg. General Sigel, who was in command of our 
forces tla-re, retreated across the Potomac at Sliephardstown ; and General Weber, 
Commaiidiii<; at Harper's Ferry, crossed the river, and occupied Maryland Heights. 
On the (jtli tlie enemy occupied llagerstown, moving a strong column towards Fred- 
erick City. General W'allace with Kicketts' divi>ion and his own command, the latter 
mostly new and undisciplined troops, pushed cut from Baltimore with great iirompt- 
ness, "and met the enemy in force on the Mouocacy, near the crossing of the railroad- 
bridge. His force was not sufficient to injure success, but he fouglit the enemy nev- 
ertheless, and although it resulted in a defeat to our arms, yet it detained tlie enemy, 
and thereby served to enable Geiu-ral Wright to reach Washington with two divi- 
sions of the" Si.xth Corps, and the a-lvancc of the Nineteenth Corps, before him. From 
Monocacy the enemy moved on WasMiiis;ton, his cavalry advance reachinsr Uockville 
on the evening of the 10th. On the I2th a reconnoissanco was thrown out in front of 
Fort Stevens, to ascertain the enemy's position anil force. A severe skirmish ensued, 
iu whicli we lost about two hundred and eighty in killed and wounded. The enemy's 
loss was jirob.ibly greater. He commenced retreating during the night. Learning the 
exact condition ofatfairs at Washington, I requested by telegraph, at f irty-tiye minutes 
past eleven P. M. on the 12th, the assigiime^it of Major-Geiieral H. G. Wrisfht to the 
command of all the troops that could be made available to operate in the tield airainst 
the enemy, and directed that he should get outside of the trenches with all the forco 
he could,'ancl push Early to the last moment. General Wright commenced the pur- 
suit on the 13th ; on the 18th the enemy was overtaken at Snicker's Ferry, on the 
Shenandoah, when a sharp skirmish occurred; and on the 2oth, General Averill en- 
countered and defcateil a portion of the rebel army at Winchester, capturing four 
pieces of artillery and several hundred prisoners. 

Learning that Early was retreating south towards Lynchburg or Kichmond, I 
directed that the Sixth and Nineteenth corps be got back to the armies operating 
against Kiclimond, so that tliey might be used in a movement agUinst Lee before the 
return of the troops sent by him into the Valley; and that Hunter should remain ia 
the Shenandoah \ alley, keeping between any force of the enemy and Washington, 
acting on the defensive as inucli as possible. I felt that if the enemy had any notion 
of reUirning, the fact would be develojied before the Sixth and Nineteenth ciirps 
could leave"" Washington. Sub.sequently, the Nineteenth Corps was excepted from 
the order to return to the James. 

About the 25th it became evident that the enemy was again advancing upon Mary- 
land and I'ennsylvania, and the Sixth Corps, then at Washington, was ordered back 
to the vicinity of Har|>er's Ferry. The reOel force moved down the Valley, and sent 
a raiding party into I'ennsylvania, which, on the 3oth, burned (.■haml>ersl)urg, and 
then retiealed,"pursiied by our cavalry, towards Cumberland. They were met and de- 
feated by General Kelly, and with diminished numl>ers escaped into the mountains 
of West Virginia. From the time of the tirst raid the telegraph wires were fre- 
quently down between Washington and City Point, making it neces.sary to transmit 
messages a part of the way by boat. It took from twenty-four to thirty-six hours to 
get di:^patche8 through and return answers back ; so that often orders would be given, 
and then information would be received showing a dillereiit state of facts froin those 
on which they were based, causing a confusion and apparent contradiction of orders 
that must have considerably embarrassed those who had to execiue them, and ren- 
dered operations against the enemy less etlective than they otherwise would have 
been. To remedy this evil, it was evident to my mind that some person should havo 
the supreme command of all the forces -in the Departments of West Virginia, Wash- 
ington, Sus(iuelianiia, and the Middle Department, and 1 so recommended. 

On the 2d of .\ugu.st, 1 ordered General Sheridan to report in person to Major- 
Geiieral Halleck, chief of stalf, at Wa>hingtou, with a view to his lussignmeiit to the 
command of all the forces asrainst Early. At this time the enemy was concentrated 
in the Jieigliborhood of Winchester, while our tbrces, under General Hunter, were 
concentrated on the Monocacy, at the crossing of the Baltimore and Ohio Bailroad, 
leaving open to the enemy W'^estern Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania. From 
where 1 was, I hesitated to give positive orders for the movcmont of our forces at 



APrKNDix. 489 

Afonocacy, lost by so iloinij I bIiohI.I oxpo-'o Wii.-^hiD^ton. Tlicrrfiro, nn tlio 4lii, I 

left Ciiy roiiit to vi>it llimtcrft lo luxl, niiJ il< Icrnniic (>>t iii_v««!r wliut wiw lx»l 

tu Ijf ilotiL-. On iirrivul llu-rv, and ulicr cuiinuhuuuii wilii Ciuiicrul iluitUT, 1 i»auc«i to 
hiiii tliu lulluwiiig iuBirucUuitfl : 

" MoMoCACT nRit>OK, M<1., Aneii't '>. 1S<V4— 9 p. >l. 

"Gkxkkal — Con(vntr*te all rnnr avikllnblp (»rro witliuiil ilpUy In the virlnlty of Ilarpor's 
FiTry, li'aviiic iiiily mirli rallnoil (;''»•■>•» ■"•' (:»rrlwii» fur pilMlc iimixrly k.^ inav !"• nrcr^ury. 
I'm-,' III ililK riiiirotitriitliit:, llic r«llrii«'K if \<y »<p «l<ilni{ llmp ran Ik* iia\<-il. yrmn ll»r|>rr'a 
Krrry, if It In f.iiiinl lliat tin- oiioiiiy lia.' innVfil north of tlip I'oloiimr tn largo fi.rro, |iu»h north, 
follou'int; liliii anil attacking bun h IuTi-vit foiiixl ; follnw liliii. If ilnvm kouIIi i.f tin- I'oloiiian, 
a.1 liinit as it In rnfu to ilo .v>. If it In it«'<'rtaliii'>l that thp i<iiriiiy liai l>ilt n ■■■ <■■■■-■ Tiorlh 
ol ihi- rotoiiiaiv, tlion imsli mhiiIi wiiIi tlio main fiirc<-. ili-larhii>i; iin<l<'r a ion > >il<-r 

■ Miltli-li-nt forci- to liMik iifttT llitf raiilom. ami ilrlvu tliriii to ilulr lioinc*. I i' b • 

forro, iliu lirlgttilo uf cavalry nuw en route truui WasblngtoD c«' Uuckvlllu u,.>; ,- ;■.■ >> Into 
•cconiiL 

"TbtTo art' now on tlu-lr war to Join yon three other hriirailrs of (he \>e*i cavalry, niimborlng 
•t lonst hve thoii-nnil men at'iil bonn'». Tlif>o will tn* ln!ilriiotc<1. In tlip nl.M-nt-e of fiirtlit-r 
ordi-rs. to jom you by th<- »<ntli slili' of thi> I'oioniac One brumle will |iriibi»l.ly !«iart to-mor- 
row. In |lu^llllli( u|i tliu Slu-nnnilouli Valley, where it la ex|K-cte<l you will hue to a» (lr»t or 
la.01, it Is <le--lrab e that nothlni; sMoulil be left to Invite the enemy to return. '! i- • •• -■■■ i-lon% 
forage, anil .sioek waniod for the ii.«c of your commAml : sueti a» cAniiot I* • ri.y. 

It U not ile-^iralile that the bulblincs rbouM l>o (U-Atruyeil— ibpy ^bouUi ratlor . but 

the people -hoiilil l.e lnfi>rme<l that, so long a.« an army can .«ul>»l.it aiiit^n.' : .-cuces 

of th«VK' raliU inuM l-o expectcil, anil we are ilelerinlneil to >lop them at all hazaro!>. 

"Uear in iiiIikI. the obj.'ct l.i to ilrive the enemy .•^•nlli: an<l to <lo thK you want to keep blm 
always in »i^lit. lie (fiililed in your rourse l>y the rourM- be takes. 

"Make your own arr«ni:eiiienta (or supplies of all kimK !:i»ini: reiru!»r vouchers for such as 
may be takeu from loyal citizens tn tbe country through which you iiiarcb. 

''L'. S. Gka.nt, Lieatcnant-GeneraL 

"MxJOB-GkNEKAL I). IlfNTrB.'' 

The troop:i were iiniiicdiutcly put in motion, and the advance reached ILillton tliat 
night. 

Geiicrnl Hunter havinir, in our conversntion, expressed a willinirness to be rulicvcd 
from coiiiiiiiiiii.1, 1 telegraphed tu have General Suvriilan, then ut \V;i>hiiiv't<>n, i^ent to 
UarperV Ferry by the iiiorniii); train, with orders to take ifeiieral eoiiiniand of all tho 
troops in the fielil, and lo c;ill on Gvnerul Hunter ut .Moiiocuey, who winiiil Mini over 
to hull my letter of instruetion.s. 1 reinniiied at M<>noeiicy until tieneriil .'Nheridaii 
arrived, on tliu niorniiig of the (>th, and, al'ler u conference with liiin in rehition to 
military utf.iirs in that vicinity, I returned lo City I'oint liy way of \V:i.ihiii.'toii. 

On tiie "111 of August, tho ilidiile department, and tho Departments of West Vir- 
einia, Wasiitngton, and Susquehanna were constituted into tlie '' Middle Military 
Division," and Major-Generui bheriduu wuii a^jsigned to temporary command of the 
same. 

Two divisions of cavalry, commanded by Generals Torhcrt and Wilson, were (<ent 
to .'>heriilaii fro!n the Army of tho Totomac. Tiie first reached him at Harper's Ferry 
about tlic 11th of August. 

His operations during tho month of Augu.st and the fore part of September were 
both of an oifensive and defeii.sive character, resulting in iiianv seveie ttkirmishes, 
principally by the cavalry, in wliich we were generally succe.ssluf, but no getienil en- 
gaifeiiienl took place. TliAwo armies lay in Midi a position — the enemy on tlie wei>t 
bank of the Opemian CreCTreoverinif Winchester, and our forces in fmiit of Berrys- 
ville — that eilner could bring on a liattie ut any time. Defeat to us woul.l l.ny o|>eii' to 
the enemy tiie States of Maryland and lVnii>\ Ivaiiiik for loiiif distunces Oefore another 
army could be iiiter|>osed tocheck him. Under llie.-<e cirfi" -• • ■ - ! ■ - ■ • ' -.lout 
allowing the initiative to be taken. Finally, the use of ti. ::.kll- 

road, and the rii<--!ij'>.nkt' niid ojiio <'.it)!i!| wlijrli '.y-p' b' ■ mv, 

became so ; ' ['■ iin«yl- 

vaiiia and M ,t I detur- 

niiiied the .,n altJick 

witlioiit kliowiiig iiioru tiiMli 1 <iiti ui Guiicfiti " .'■. ua tu w hhI would bo 

the probable re.tult, 1 lott City I'oiut on the . r to visit biin nt his 

hea'itiuarters, to ! ' •• - • ' : |,iin 

at Charleston, a: . i tio 

the tiiomcnl lie w .1- . saw 

there were but lw« wi ., i.f 

forage, tho teams for > i,iiu 

if iie could get out his '. , .. ^ v,.-.iiiijf 

Tuesday moruiug. Ilia repty was, tuut ne could Dviure auyligut ou MuiKiuy. ilo wu« 



490 GRANT A2sD HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

ott" promptly to time, and I may liere add, that tlie result was sucli tliat I liave never 
biuuu dtenicd It ijLCL-ssury to vi.-it General ^licri^lun belore (fiving liini orders. 

Early on the niorniiif: of tiie lytii, General blll-ridan atiaekeU General iiiirly at the 
cro.s.■^inJf at the Upequaii Creek, aud al'ier a ino>t saiiguiiiary and bloooy battle, lasting 
until five Li'cloek lu the evening, defeated him with heavy lo.ss, earrying his entire po- 
eition from Opi<|iiaii Creek to WineliCAer, capturing several thou.-una pri.-oners and 
five pieces of aruliery. The enemy rallied, aiiU inaJe a stand in a ^rrong position at 
Fisher's Hill, where he was attacked, and again defeated with heavy lo.->s on the :iOth. 
Slieridan pursued him with great energy tlirough Harrisonburg, bta"union, and the 
gaps of the Blue Kidge. After stripping tlie upper valley of most of the supplies 
and provisions lor tlie rebel army, he returned to btrasburg, aud took position ou the 
lioriii side of Cedar Creek, e 

Having received considerable re-enforcements, General Early again returned to the 
Valley, and, on the I'th of October, his cavalry encountered ours near birasburg, 
where the rcbeK were defeated, with tlie loss of eleven pieces of ariiikry and three 
Liindred and nfty prisoners. On the night of the ISth, the enemy cros.-ed' me moun- 
tains which separated the branches ol the Shenandoah, forded the north fork, and 
early on liic morning of the I'Jth, under cover of the darkness and the fog, surprised 
aud turned our left flank, and captured the batteries which enliladed our whule line. 
Our troops fell Oack with heavy loss and in much confusion, but were linally rallied 
between .Miiidletowu and JS'ewtow n. At this juncture. General ShL-riuaii, w li'o was at 
%V'incliester when the battle commenced, arrived on the tiekl, arran-^ed hi.-, lines ju.st 
in time to repulse a heavy attack of the enemy, and immediately assuming the oUeu- 
eive, lie ati..cke.| in turn with great vigor.' Tlie enemy was defeated witii great 
slaughter, and the loss of most of his artillery and trains, and the trophies he iiad 
captured 111 the morning. The wreck of his army escaped during the night, and tied 
ill llie direction of btaunton and Lynchburg. I'lirsuit was made to Mount Jackson. 
Thus ended this, the enemy's last attempt to in\ade the Isorih via the ^llenandoah 
Valley, i was now enabled to return the Si.vtli Corps to the Army of the I'otoiiiac, 
and to send one division from tsheridan's uriiiy to tlie Army of the James, and an- 
other to Savannah, Georgia, to hold Slierman's new acquisitions on tiie seacoast, and 
thus eiiaole him to move without detaching from his force for that purpose. 

Keporis from various sources led me to believe that the enemy had oetuched three 
divisions from I'eiersbarg to re-enforce liarly in the Shenandoah Valley. 1 therefore 
sent the Second Corps and Gregg's division of cavalry, of the Army of the I'otomac, 
and a force of General liutler's army, on the night of the lyih of August, to threaten 
Kichmond from the iiorih side of the James, to prevent him from seiidintr troops 
away, aiiil, if possible, to draw back those .-enl. in this move we caplureil .-i.x pieced 
of artillery anu several hundred prisoners, detained troops that were uiiiier niarciiing 
orders, aii.l a.sceriained that but one division (Kershaw's;, of the three reputed de- 
tached, had giiue. 

The enemy having withdrawn lieavily from Petersburg to resist this movement, 
the Fifth Corps, General Warren cummaiuling, was moved out on the i~th, and took 
iiossesMon ot liie W e.don Kailroad. During the day he had considerable tightiiig. 
To regain possession of the road, the enemy made repeated and desperate a>saulis, 
but was each time repulsed with great lo.ss. On the nignt of the '.iOlli, tnc troops on 
the norih side ol the James were withdrawn, and Hancock and Gregg returned to 
the front at relcrsburg. On the :iotli, tne Second Corps and Gregg's division of 
cavalry, wuile at lieam's Station destroying tlie railroad, wJfce alUickeU, anU alter des- 
perate lighting, a part of our line gave way, and tive pieoR of artillery fell into the 
Lands of the enemy. 

liy tliel:itli of Se|itember, a branch niilroad was completed from the City Point and 
Petersburg Kailroad to the Weldon Kailroad, enabling us to supply, without ditlieulty, 
in all wealiier, the army in front of I'etersburg. 

The e.Meiision of our lines across the Weldon liailroad compelled the enemy to so 
extend his, that it seemed he could have but few troops north of the Juiiies I'or the de- 
fence of liichniond. On the night of the "JSlh, the Tenth Corps, Major- General Bir- 
ney, anil liie iiighteenih Corps, ilajor-Geiieral Ord coiiimanding, ot General iJiitltr's 
army, were crossed to the north side of the James, and advanced on the morninir of 
the 'iSyth, carrying the very strong fortitications and intreiichments below (.'hapin's 
Farm, known a.-. Fort Harrison, capturing titteen pieces of artillery, and the xNcw 
Market road and intreiichinents. Ihis success was followed up by a gallani assault 
upon Fort GiUiiiore, immediately in front of the ('ha[)iii Farm foriihcations, in wiiich 
we were repulsed with heavy loss. Kaulz's cavalry was pushed forward on the road 
to the right of tills, sii|>ported by intantry, aiul reached the enemy's inner line, but 
Was unaolu to gel further. The position captured iVoui the enemy was so threatening 
to liichniond, that 1 detcruiiued to bold it. The enemy made severul desperate at- 



AI'I'KNDIX. 401 

tempts to «lii«locluo u«, nil of whioli were imHucfi-f.HfnI, (in<l for wliioh lie pai'l ikMrly. 
Oil llie iiioriiiiii; of till! Suli, (fi-mnil Miu.lo -out 'ini n r<a-.>iiiiMi».aiio<', wiili u view in 
»lluckiii>f tliu fiiemv'i* liiu-, if it WiW fuiiul (nitlloioiiily wciiki-iiC'l l>y wit .•Iruwul of 
troopn to tliu tiortii »i<W\ In tlii'* rtiooimoiit^utu-u wo ca|itiiro-l nml livUI iliu ciiuiny'H 
worki* iioiir I'opliir Spriii)? Cliiircli. In the utlunirMin, tr<M')>!« movimr tn gvi to tiio left 
of tliu point ({aiiii'il wore ullui-ki'il by tlip olii'iny in licuvy forw, uiiil eoii.|n'lli!il to full 
buck iiiilil Mipportcil l>y tlii« Inrofs lioMin/ ••'«-• i-apiurcil wmki*. Our cuvulry uuiler 
(jTvtm Wii!« al-o tilt ickfil, hut ri'pulsi'il tlio oiiemy witli i^roal lo!.n. 

Uii tlio Ttli of Outohor, iliu eiiuiiiv aitackcl Kautz'n ouvulry north of llx^ .liiincM, and 
drove it hack with heavy Iosh in k^illcl, wouhile^l, anil nri^oner-", iinil tin- !■•«* of nil 
the iirtillory — eijfht or nine piecuH. Thi* ho lolliiwi-il up by an attack on our iiiireiichod 
infantry line, l>ul wii-> ropuUcI witli Hevor-i piauir'itor. On the I ltl>, a recoiinu.<>nuneo 
wad .-•cut out l>y Goiu-ral Ihitlcr, with ii view to drive the enemy from noni<! now works 
Le wu.H coii:»tructinif, which n-sultc'l in very heavy Io-h to ui«. 

On the 'JTth, the Army of the i'otouuic, Iravini: only nutlicient montn hold itn fortified 
line, moved l>y the enemy 's* riifht think. The ScconcI I'orpi*, toUowod hy two divisions 
of tiiu Fifth {.'or|>!«, Willi the cavalry inn>lviiiic« and covuriiiK our left Hunk, t'>rcc<i h 
passage of llutcherV Kun, aiut moved up the Mouth nido of it towards* the Siiuthsido 
Kailruad, until the Seconil Corpi* and part of the cavalry readied the IS^y'lt .n plaiik- 
roa<l where it crosses* Hatcher .•« Kun. At thin point we were •«ix mil''-, d-taut from 
tho Soutii.-«ide Uailroatl, which I hud hoped hy tliiit movement to riach and IidM. Hut 
finding that we had not rcaciied tiie end of the enemy'!* fortiflcalion.'*, and no place pre- 
6cutiii|r it.xeil'tbr u sucro^l'ul ii.«!«uiilt hy which he mii^ht be doubled up and ^•lorIened, 
I determined to withdraw to within our t'<<rtitled line. Orders were ifiven h'ct Imijly. 
Imniodiuiely upon receivinjf a report ilial General Warren hii'l coiinectol wit'i (ieiiend 
Hancock. 1 relumed to my hea l<|uarter.-». Soon utter I left, the enemy iiio^ed out 
across Hatcher' .-> Uiiii. in the pap hLtweeii (ieiier.-ils Hancock mid Warriii, wh eh vfan 
not closed a- reported, and inaile a de-per«lo attaoK on General IliiiO'Ck's ij.'htand 
rear. General Hancock iiiinie liately faccil his corps to meet it, and ul'iern blow ly com- 
bat drove the enemy' within his works, and witndrew that n i;lu to his old posiiion. 

la support of tins movement, General Butler made a deuion.stratioii on the north 
side of the daiiiC'*, and uttucked the enemy on the Williamsburi: Hoiiil, and ul.so on 
the York Kiver Kuilroud. in the farmer he was unsuccessful; in the lutti-r ho suc- 
ceeded in curryiii^r " work which was at\erwiirds abandoned, and his forces witlidruwa 
to their former po^iiiMns. 

From this time forward the operations in front of Petersburg and Hichmond, until 
the spriiiiT campuiifn of Hti.!, were contined to the defence uinl extension of our lines, 
and to otron>ive movements for crippliiu; the enemy's lines of coiiimiinieation, and to 
prevent his detuchin<; any con>i<leral)le <orce to send south. By the 7th of February, 
oiir lines were extended to lluteher's Kun, and the Weldon Kuilroad bud been de- 
Btroyed to Hickstbrd. 

General Sherman moved from riiattanooga on the 6th of May. witli the Armies of 
the CumberLind, Tennessee, and Ohio, commanded, respectively, oy Generals i'homas, 
Mcl'hcrson, and Seh'itieid, upon Johnston's army at l)alton ; but tiiidini; the enemy's 
positions at Buzzard Koo>t, covering; Dalton, loo stron>f to be a>saulte'l, General Mo- 
i'herson wiu< sent tliroii^h Snake Gap to turn it, whil.-t Generals Thomas and Scho- 
field tlireateiicd it ill front mid on the north. This movement was sucee.-sful. John- 
ston, findinif his retreat likely to be cut nil", fell back to his t'ortiflcd position at Hesaca, 
■where he wa-« utUickud on the at'ternoon of Mav l.ith. A heavy battle eii.-ued. Dur- 
ing the nigiit tiie enemy retreated south. Late on the 17th, his rear-i^iiiird was 
overtaken near Adair.-svil'lc, and heavy skirmi^hini; followed. The next mornini^, 
however, he hud ucuin di.-ap|»eared. He was viiforoiisly pursued, and wui overtaken 
ot Cassville on the rJlh, but during; the ensuing night retreated across the Ktowali. 
Whilst the^e operations were going on. General Jetferson C. Davis':» division of 
Thomas's army was sent to Koine, ca|>tiiring it with its forts and artillery, and il« 
valuable mills and tbundries. (ienerul Sherman, having given his army a few duy»' 
re.<tt at this point, again put it in inoiiiui on the '.'Dd, tor Dallas, with a view of turning 
the dittietilt pass ut Allatooiia. On the utteriioon of the 2"'th, the ntlvance, under 
General Hooker, had a severe bntHe with the enemy, driving him bock to New Hope 
Church, near Ualla". Several sharp eneounters occurred at this ponit. The iiio»i im- 
portant was on the ^sth, when the uneiny assaulted General Mel herson ut I>allus, but 
roceiveil a terrible and bhwidy repuUe. 

On the 4tli of Juno. Jidinston abandoned his intrenched p<^»ition ot New Hop* 
Church, and retreated to the strong positions of Keiiesuw, I'lno, and Lost inouiilains. 
lie was forced to yield the two last-named places, au'^ coticer.trato his nrmy at Kene- 
aaw, where, on the 27lh, Generals Thomas and Sicl'iicrson made a determined but 
uusucceaaful aasaulu On the uight of tho 'Jd of July, Sbcnuati cotunioiiced tuoving 



492 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

his army by the ri^ht flank, and on the morning of the 3d, found that the enemy, in 
consequence of this movemtut, had abandoned Kenesaw and retreated across the 
Chattahoochee. 

General f>htrman remained on the Chattahoocliee to give his men rest and get up 
Ktores until tlie 17th of July, wlien he resumed his operations, cros>ed the Cliatta- 
lioochee, destroyed a larsre portion of the railroad to Augusta, and drove the enemy 
back to Atlanta. At this place General Hood .succeeded General Johnston in coui- 
niand of the rebel army, and, assuming the otfensive-dcfeusive policy, made several 
severe attacks upon Sherman in the vicinity of Atlanta, the most desperate and de- 
termined of which wiLs on the ii2d of Julv. About 1 p. m. of this day the brave, 
accomplished, and noble-hearted Mcl'her^on was killed. General Logan succeeded 
him, and commanded the Army of the Tennessee through this desperate battle, and 
until he was superseded by Major-General Howard, on the 26th, with the same suc- 
cess and ability that had characterized him in the command of a corps or division. 

In ah these attacks the enemy was repulsed with great loss. Finding it impossible 
to entirely invest the place. General Sherman, after securing his line of cummunica- 
tions across the Chattahoochee, moved his main force round by the enemy's lelt flank 
upon the Montgomery and Macon roads, to draw the enemy'from his fortifications. 
In this he succeeded, and, after defeating the enemy near Kough-aud-Keady, Joues- 
boro', and Lovejoy's, forcing him to retreat to the south, on the 2d of September 
occupied Atlanta, the objective point of this campaign. 

About the time of this move, the rebel cavalry, under Wheeler, attempted to cut 
his coninuinications in the rear, but was repulsed at Daltcn, and driven into East 
Tennessee, whence it proceeded west to McMinuville, Muifreesboro', and Frankiiu, 
and was Hnailv driven south of the Tennessee. The damage done by this raid was 
repaired in a few days. 

During the partial investment of Atlanta, General Rousseau joined General Sher- 
man witli a force of cavalry from Decatur, havinir made a successful raid upon the 
Atlanta and Montgomery Kailroad, and its brandies near Opelika. Cavalry raids were 
also made by Generals McCook, Garrard, and Stoneman, to cut the remaining railroad 
communication with Atlanta. The first two were successful— the latter, disiLstrous. 

General Sijerman's movement from Chattanooga to Atlanta was prompt, skilful, and 
brilliant. The hi.-tory of his flank movements and battles during that memorable 
campaign will ever be read with an interest unsurpassed by any thing in history. 

His own report, and those of his subordinate commanders, accompanying it, give 
the details of that most successful campaign. 

He was de{)eiulent for the supply of liis armies upon a single-track railroad from 
^ashviJle to the point where he 'was operatiuir. This passed the entire distance 
througti a ho.-.tile country, and every foot of it had to be protected by troops. Tiie 
cavalry force of the enemy under "Forrest, in Northern Mississippi, was evidently 
waiting for Sherman to advance far enough into the mountains of Georgia to make a 
retreat disastrous, to get upon his line and destroy it beyond the possibility of further 
use. To guard against this dauirer, Sherman letl what he supposed to be a sufficient 
force to operate against Forrest in West Tennessee. He directed General \Va>hburn, 
who commanded there, to send Brigadier-General S. D. Stunris in command of tiiis 
force to attack him. On the morning of the loth of June, General Sturgis met the 
enemy near Guntown, Mississippi, was badly beaten, and driven back in utter rout 
and confusion to Memphis, a distance of about one hundred miles', hotly pursued by 
the enemy. Ey this, liowever, the enemy was defeated in his designs upon Siiermaii's 
line of communications. The persistency with which he followed up liis success ex- 
hausted him, aud made a sea.-oii for rest and repairs necessary. In the mean time, 
Major-General A. J. Smith, with the trooiis of the Army of the Tennessee that had 
been sent by General Sherman to General banks, arrived at Memphis on their return 
from Ked Kiver, where they had done most e.vcellent service, lie was directed bv 
General ^herman to immediately lake the ott'eiisive against Forrest. This he did witu 
the promptness and elfect which has characterized his whole military career. On the 
14tli of July, he met tlie enemy at Tupelo. Mis.-Nissippi, and whippetl him badly. The 
fighting continued through three days. Our loss Was small compared with that of the 
enemy. Having accomplished the object of his expedition, General Smith returned 
to Memphis. 

During tiie months of March and April this same force under Forrest annoyed us 
considerably. On the 'Jitli of March it captured Union City, Kentucky, and its -.'ar- 
risoii, and on the 24th, attacked I'adiicah. conimanded by Colonel S. G. Hicks. For- 
tieth Illinois Volunteers. Colonel H., having but a sniaUforce, withdrew to the forts 
near the river, from where he repulsed the enemy and drove him from the place. 

Oil the 1.3th of April, pan of this force, uiKlerthe rebel General liufcird. summoned 
the garrison of Columbus, Kentucky, to surrender, but received for reply from Colonel 



APPKNIMX. 403 

Lnwroncp. Tliirtv-foiirth New Jor«cv Voliiiit.-cr-. Uiof. Winir p'tK-r.J thrro ».y hi-. r,.i%-- 

enumiit, witli iil«.vi"lo forcti to hol.l lii.t \>o^l uiol repel nil uiKiiiif!. from il, mirrcmler 

wu.» out of tilt! .iiiexii.iii. , 

On tlir iii."-ninu'<>l"tlio •iitnocliiy torrcf^lnttnokcil hnrt I iilow, I "<i 

bv u .IctH.-liiiii-iit orr.MiiicH.oo cavalry Bii.l llic Kir-l lt<-||[iinciit Al ■ ■*, 

i-omiti:.n.|.'.l l.v M.ij.T H..01I1. Tlio iriirri-.ii l-'U.'M I'n.v.l.v until u'- > . . • .» in 

til.- iil(.ri,i...i," whiMi tuv oiiomy ciirricl tin- wnU- !>> ik-iiuU ; iiii'l. ntt.-r niir inrti threw 
down tli.ir iifiii!«. |.r<H-<i'.l-<l to'uii mlininiin ihkI nirroil<-i«» lnnj«-«u.Tr i>t Km- i^nrri.-.". 

On till- Mill. (JeiiiTiil Biilord, having failed ul Cohinibu."*, uppcurcd b.forc I'adiicah, 
but wii!« Hijnin driven off. ^ 

Uiiernlhis an. I nii.l.TH, <>ccmin>rlv emholdenc.J by Forrest si operation*, were nl.»o 
vcrvm-tive Ul Kiiiinokv. Tlio niont note.l of tlie!»e woa Morifun. W iili « force of 
froin two to tlirfc iliou^'and cnvnlrv, lie iiitt-red tbo Slate tliroiiifii Pound (inp in the 
latter y.xTl of Miiv. On tlic lltli of .Inn.-, lie att..ok.-d and capture! (".MitluiHi i with 
itH entire carrn^on. On the l-.'tli, he was overtaken l>y (;eneral IJirLnl^/r, and coin- 
plctilv miite.l, with hcuvv los.*, and wa.» ftiially driven out of the Stat.-. IIim no- 
torious (fiicrrdhi wa-» afierwar-U surprise.! and killed near Greenville, Teiinei«sco, and 
his coiiiinand captured iniil dispersed by Ueiienil (lillein. _ 

In the abseiK-e of olHcial rejH.rts at the comineiicement of the Rod River expedition, 
except >o lur lis relat-s to the tnovcnicnts of the trooj.s >ent bv (icmral Shcniian un- 
der A. .1. Smith. 1 am unable to pive the date of its sUrtiiifr. The trooi>s "U'ler 
General Smith. coinpri«iiiir two divisions of the Sixtceiitli and a de'achiiniit of tho 
Seveiitetnth Arrin Corps, left Vioksburif on the imh of .March, niid r.-arh.-d tliedc-iir- 
niited point on K.-d River one day earlier than that apixanied bv Geneiai lianks. Tho 
rebel tore.-' at Kort de Kiissrv. thinkimr to .leient iiiin, left the fort on the Mth to ffive 
)iim battle in the open fi.ld"; but. while <K:cupyiii/ the enemy with skirinishinjr and 
deinr.|i>tia ions. Smith push.d forwanl to Kort de Rus^ey, which had lieen left with a 
weak LMrri-on. and capiiirc.l il with its frarris.ui— ab ut thnc Iniiidr. d and firty 
men. eleven pieets ot' artilkrv, ami many omall ariii-. Our loss was but sliifiit. 
On the 15th, he pushed forward to Alexandria, which place he rea.dud on the 
ISth. Oil the "Jlst, ho hud nn engiiiremcnt with tho enemy al llendtTsoii Ilill, in 
which he dL-fttted him, cjpiuniig two hundred and ten prUoner:! and four pieces of 
artillerv. . , o 1 

On tiie •jsth. lie aijain attacked and defeated the enemy under tho rebel Oeneral 
Tavlor. at Cane River. Hv the 2rtth, General Ranks had asso nbled his whole armv 
at Ali'xaii.lria, and pii-luMHorward to Grand Kcore. On the morniiii: of .\pril 6th 
lie moved from Grand hieore. On the aflemoon of the 7th, his advance .-nirajred tlio 
enemv near I'lensant Mill, and drove him from the field. On the s-aino atteriio.M) tho 
enem'v made a stand eiirht miles bevond I'iea>unt Hill, but wa- aea.ii wmpelled to 
retreat. On the sih, at Sabine Cros.s'Kouds and I'each Hill, the enemy aitacked and 
defeated his lulvance. captiirln;: niiKteen pieces of artillery and an immense amount 
of tran>portali .11 and stores. During the night, Geiicrd Banks tell back to Pleasant 
Hill, where another battle was f..ii..'lit on the i'tn. an-l the enemy repulsed with irr.nl 
Io»,M. Durinir the ni^hr, Gei;eral Banks continued his retrograde nDvemont to Grniid 
Ecoro. and tneiiee t.i .\lexan.iril^ which he rem-hed on the 27tli of .-Viril. Here a 
neriouo ditH.-iiltv nr.isc in getting A.lmiral Porter's fleet, which aceonipanicl the expe- 
dition, ov.-r the rapids, the water having fai.en so much since they pa.ssu I np as to 
prevent their return. At the sutrtrestion of <'olonel (now Briiradier-GemrBl) Builev. 
Bii'l uii.ler his sui.erinteiideiue, wim^-dams were c.>nstrueted, by wliich the channel 
was eontract«.| r-o that the fleet passed .lown the rai-ids in safety. 

Th.- army evneiiate.l Alexan.lria on the Ulh of May. after consi.lcnd.lc skirmi-hine 
with tiie fi'ieinv's a.lvanee, and reachcl Morganzia and Point Coiipe.' near tue en.l of 
the Tiioi.ih. 'I'be .li.s.istr..us termination ot this expedition, and tho l..ieii0!».* of tlie 
f>ea-"ii. len.lere.l impractiiable the carrying out of niy plan of a inovonienl iu force 
putliiMi-nt to in»ure the capture of Mobile. 

On the JJ •«! of .March, .Major (ioiiera! Steele loft I.tUlo Rock with the Seventh Army 
Corps, to eo-operate with tJeneral Biink.s' exiHS.lition on Red River. »ii I readied 
Arkudc!tihiu on the .'Sth. On the I'ith of April, after .Irivimj the enemy U-fore him. 
lie wa» 1 >iiie.l. near Klkin'n Ferry, in Washita County, by General Thincr, who had 
niarche.l from Fort Smith. After ueveral severe skirini-lies. in which tbt- enemy was 
defeated, (ietieial Steele reache.l Cnindeii, which he iK-eiipied ah lilt til' 'April. 

On learniiiif the .U-leat and eonse<|iient r.treat of (J. n. ral Banks ' and 

the I0S.S ..f one of his own trains at Mark's .Mill. Ill Dallas Conntv ,« ■ •• do- 

termine.l to fall o.ick to the Arkansas River. lie lelt Cum. leu on II. c :.;;:. : April 
and rcache.l Little R.-ek on the Jd ..f M.iy. On the Soth of April, ti.e enemy attacked 
him while cros..inir Sa ine Rivi-r nt Jenkins' Ferry, but was n-pulw-.l with considerable 
iobs. Our loj-s HUH aboui six hundred iu killed, wounded, aud prisouurv. 



494 GRANT AN'D HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

Major-General Canby, who had been assipned to the command of the " Military 
Divi»ii»ii of tlie West Mississippi," was therefore directed to send the Nineteenth 
Army Corps to join the armies operatin? against Kictimond, and to limit the remainder 
of hi';* command to such operations as mi^iit be necessary to hold the positions and 
lines of cf)mmiinicatioiis he tliej^ occupied. 

Before startiiiir General A. J. Smith's troops back to Sherman, General Canby sent 
a part of it to di-pense a force of the cnemj- that was coliectintr near the Mississippi 
Kiver. General Smitii met and defeated this force near Lake Chicot on the 5th of 
Jime. Our lo.ss was about forty killed and seventy wounded. 

In the latter part of July, General Canby sent Major-General Gordon Grander, with 
sucli forces its he could collect, to co-operate with Admiral Farraffut against the de- 
fences of Mobile Bay. On the Sth of Au|srust, Fort Gaines surrendered to the com- 
biiieil naval and land f irces. Fort Powell was blown up and abandoned. 

On the ytli, Fort Morjran was invested, and, after a severe bombardment, surren- 
dered on the 23d. The total captures amounted to one thousand four hundred and 
si.xty-four prisoners, and one liunlred and four pieces of artillery. 

About the la>t of August, it beini; reported that the rebel General Price, with a 
force of about ten thousand men, had reached Jacksonpnrt, on his way to invade Mis- 
souri, General A. J. Smith's command, then en rouU from Memphis to join Sherman, 
was ordered to Missouri. A cavalry force was also, at the same time, sent from Mem- 
phis, under command of Colonel "Winslow. This made General Rosecrans' forces 
superior to those of Price, and no doubt was entertained he would be able to check 
Price and drive him back ; while the forces under General Steele, in Arkansa.s, would 
cut otf his retreat. On tlie 2')tli day of September, Price attacked Pilot Knob and 
forced the jrarrison to retreat, and thence moved north to the Missouri River, and con- 
tinued up tiiat river towards Kansas. General Curtis, commanding department of 
Kansas, immediately collected such forces as he could to repel the invasion of Kansas, 
while General Rosecrans' cavalry was operating in his rear. 

The enemy was brought to battle on the Big Blue and defeated, with the loss of 
nearly all his artillery and trains and a large number of prisoners. He made a pre- 
cipitate retreat to Northern Arkansas. The impunity with which Price was enabled 
to roam over the State of Missouri for a long time, and the incalculable mischief done 
by him, shows to how little purpose a superior force may be used. There is no rea- 
son why General Rosecrans should not nave concentrated his forces, and beaten and 
driven Price hetbre the latter reached Pilot Knob. 

September 2oth, the enemy's cavalry, under Forrest, crossed the Tennessee near 
TVaterloo, Alabama, and on the 'J3d attacked the garrison at Athens, consisting of six 
hundreil men, which capitulated on the 'J4th. Soon after the surrender two regiments 
of rc-eriforoements arrived, and after a severe fight were compelled to surrender. 
Forrest destroyed the railroad westwanl, captured the garrison at Sulphur Branch 
trestle, skirmished with the irarrison at Pulaski on the '_'7th, and on the same day cut 
the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad near Tullahoma and Deohard. On the morn- 
ing of the 30tli, one column of Forrest's command, under Buford, appeared before 
llunUsville, and summoned the surrender of the garrison. Receiving an answer in 
the negative, he remained in the vicinity of the place until next morning, when he 
at'ain summoned its surrender, and received the same replv as on the nisrlit before, 
lie withdrew in the direction of Athens, which place haci been regarrisoned, and 
attacked it on the afternoon of the 1st of October, but without success. On the 
morning of the 2d he renewed his attack, but was handsomely repulsed. 

Anoilier column under Forrest appeared before Columbia on the morning of the 
1st, but did not make an atlaek. On the morning of the 3d he moved towartls Mount 
Pleasant. While these operations were going on, every exertion was made by Genend 
Thomas to destroy the forces under Forrest l)efore he could recross the Tennessee, 
but was unable to prevent his escape to Corinth, Mississippi. 

In September, an expedition under General Burbridge was sent to destroy the salt- 
works at Saltville, Virginia. He met the enemy on the 2d of October, about three 
miles and a half from Saltville, and drove him into his stronel}' intrenched position 
around the salt-works, from which he was unable to dislodge him. During the night 
he withdrew his coniinand and returned to Kentucky. 

General Sherman, imme<liiitely after the tall of Atlanta, put his armies in camp in and 
about the i^lace, and ma«le all preparations for refitting and supplying them tor future 
hcrvice. The great length of roail from Atlanta to the Cumberland River, however, 
which had to bo guarded, alloweil the troops but little rest. 

During this time Jefferson Davis made a speech in Macon, Georgia, wliich was re- 
ported in the papers of the ."south, and soon became known to the whole country, dis- 
elosing the plans of the enemy, thus enabling General Sherman to fully meet them. 
He oxiiibiled the weaknesd of supposing tliat an army that liad been bcutcn and 



APPENDIX. 495 

fearfully -ipoimntod in n vnin nttompt nt tlic HcH-nnivp, poiild Rncocwfiilly tindcrtAko 
the ollciKivo lufiiiiist tho nrmv tlitt lin-l mi i>l"(on ilrffiitol it. 

In I'Xfoiiti'xi of tills pliin, ll<>o.l. with lii-> iiriny, wa« !«"on rcportod to the sontliwc«t 
of Atliiiitn. Moviiiif fur to Slicrmnn'« ritjlit, ho »ucccc<lc«l in runcl.inK llic railrood 
about Biir Slmntv, nini in<»vc<i north on it. . * > • 

Gi-neriil Shi-rinaii. leuviiiir n force to lioM Atlnntn, with tho romnindor of hi!« ortny 
fell uiioii liiin iin.l .Irovo hiin to (}ii.l.t..n, Alnhninn. Socinir tho e>>ii!«tiiiit niinovunro 
he would hiivi- with tho r<>n.N to hi.o rriir if lie nttenij>ted to hol.l Aihiritn, (Jcm-nd 
ShorniMU j>ri>po»p,l tlio uhunil^ntnciit iind ilc-tructioii ot that plocc, with ull tho Tnil- 
Toud.i loading to it, and tcUgruplicd nic ».•« follows : 

• " CjTTRrrii.Llt, 0«.. OrtnfxT 10— noon. 

"Pl«n«trh iihniit WII«on Jn!«t rp<vl»«Nl. Tlood In now croiwlne (V>.>'ii« Klvpr. IwpIvp m\\r» below 

Romo hoiiinl w^L lrh<< p«i!Mvi th- M.ibll." nn.l Olil.) rowl. Im>l I not tx-tt.r cc-^iHp «h« i>l»n of 

my l.-tt.T !Mnt l.y Colonol I'ortrr, mid lenvc (}.'n.r«l Thomn. with th.- Ir.M.p* now in T."nnp«.-f, to 

lU-fonil llio SUto? Uc will bive fti) •iiiplo forc« when ibo ro-cnforc<Miu«nts imliT.-*! r»»ch N«eh- 

"■ " W. T. Siicitii A!(, .M»J.>r-OenermL 

" LuSfTKNANT-OnMRAL OrANT. " 

For a full iindorstandin? of the plnn rcforrrd to in this dispatch, I quote from tho 
letter si-iit l>v Colonel I'ortcr : " I will tiii-rofirc >rive my opinion, that Noiir army and 
Cimbv's .Hho'iild ho re-cnf..rccd to th«! muximnm ; that littcr von jfit Wilmiiiift'Mi, y.m 
etriko' for Savannah and the river ; that Caiihy ho instriicted to hold the Mi-<i!*-i{'|l 
Kiver, an<l send a force to jrct Columbus, Gcorifi.i, cither by the way of the .-Vhit'iiiia 
or the Appalachioohi, and that I keep Hoo.l employed nnd jMit my nnny in tliial order 
for a march on Auirusta, Columbia, and Charleston, to bo rcutly ii8 coon ivs Wilming- 
ton is scaled as to commerce, and the city of Savannah is in our possession." This 
wns in replv to a letter of mine of diite 'S^•ptem^er 12th, in answer to a dispatch of 
his contaiiiinir suh-taiitially the same proposition, and in wiiich 1 infirined liiin of a 
proposed movement ugum»t Wilmington, and of the situation in Virginia, etc. 

"CiTT PoisT, Va., October II, 1^1—11 a.m. 
"Tonr rticpsfch of Octolx-r inth received. Doe* It not l.x.k us If Uo->.l wm enlne t<> »ttempt the 
lnva.»i<m of MliMIe Tonnf».»ee, uslnj the M^'bi e aii'l Ohio iin.I .M-iii[ilii9 atxl Ch»rl.-t..ri n>vN to 
eupply hi' ba-e on th- T.-nne'^HO- I'.lvor, aNoiit Fli'r.-nro or P.-ratur? If ho il".-* ihK he nnifht to 
be met and prevented from Kettlni; north of ih.> T>nnf*-<ee Klver. If ynii Wi-re to rut lixue, I do 
not tielleve you woulil meet Hood's armv. but woulil bo bi;«hwhscko.l by all the olil in-n and little 
boys, and such railroml-euards as are !>tlll l.ft at home. IIoo I would probably strik.- for Na.^hville, 
thi'nkin-: thst bv soinc nnrtb he coulil Inflict ereater damat'e upon us than w.- rould niHin the 
rebels by poing' !>outh. If tliere Is anv w«v of C'-ttinc Ht Hootl's army. I woubl prefer th»t ; but, I 
must trust to you/ own juileiiicnL I'flnd I shall not be able to s.>nd a fi>rce from h.-ro to a--t with 
you cm Savannah. Your moveinenta. th-refore, will be independent of mine; at l.'a^t until tho 
fall of Uichmond takes plai-e. I am «fr«id Thomas, with surb lines of roa.1 as he his to protect, 
could not prevent H.mmI from coinij n.-rth With WiWon turned loose, with all your chivalry, you 
will finil the rebels put iiiucli more on the defensive than heretofore. 

** U. 9. OtA!«T, Lleutenant-OenenU. 

"'H^JOSl-GtiiLE.kl. W. T. SlUEBMA^." 

KiN08T0!i, Oa., October 11—11 *. m. 

" ITood moved his nrmv from Palmetto Station across by Pallas and Ce<lartown. and Is now on 
the Coosa Klver. south of liofne. He threw one eorps on my roa-l at Acworth. and I was forc-d to 
follow. I hold Atlanta with the Twentieth Corpv and have strone detach meiiti alona my Ime. 
This rcilurrs my a<-tive fon-e to a rom[>sritlve'y siimll aruiv. We cannot remain h-re on th.- de- 
frn»ive. With the tw.-ntv-rtve thousaml m.-ii. anil the bold cavalry lie has. he c in ron-tantly 

br.ak my roads. I would' Inflnlt^lv prrfer to mak- a wr.-ck of the ro id, and of th uniry from 

Chaltan.K^ra t.i Atlanta, includlne tbe latt.-r city— s.>nd back all my wounded and wort'iIe«N and 
with iiiv eflTectlve arniv. move through Oforeia, snia.»hin(f ihlnps, to tin- rea. 1I>.<h1 ni»y turn 
Into T.'nni'S--e an.l KentUi-ky. but I b.-lleve he will bo f..rr.-d to follow me. In-tea.! of inr l^-lng 
on the defensive, I would »* on the offensive; instead of pies-InK at what he means to d.^ be 
Would have to curs* at my j.lans. The dllbrence In war Is fUll twcuty-flve per cent. 1 can make 
Bsvannah. Chsrl.-«ton. or th.- moulb of the Ciiatlahooehee. 

" Answer quick, as I know wo will not have the telegraph lone 

'• W. T. 8n«RMAX, MaJor-OenenJ. 

"Lir.CTESAirr-OKttRAL OaAjrr." 

Crrr Poi^rr, Va, October II. 1<»R4— tl:30 r. m. 

"Tonr dispatch of to-dar received. If you a'e satisfied the trip to the s<ar.«.t can \-r m»de, 
holdlnif the line of the trnneseee River flnnly, yuu may make it, di-slroylng all the railruaj 
Boulh uf Palton or Chattanooga, as you think best. . „ 

" ' " U. 8. OtAJTT, LlenUnanl-Oenerat 

"jiAJOt-OtsraAL W. T. SucmnAS," 



496 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

It WM tlie orisinal dcsisrn to hold Atlanta, and by eetting through to the coast, with 
a siirrisoii It-ft on the hiouthtrn niilroads, leatiinp easi and west, tlirou<rli Georgia, to 
effectually sever tlie east from the we.-t. In other wordg, cut the wonld-be Cunt'ed- 
cracy in t'wi. a^'ain, us it liad been cut once by our ^nininjr i)osses>ion of tlie Mississipi 
IJiver. General Siieruian's j>lan virtually ettecteil tiiis object. 

Generiil Siiernian commenced at once his preparations for his proposed movement, 
keeping his army in position in the mean time to watch Hood. Bccomino: satisfied 
that Hood liad iiwve.l westward from Gadsden across Sand Mountain, General Sher- 
man sent the F-'urth Corps, Major-General Stanley commaiidinjr, and the Twenty- 
third Corps, Major-General Sehotield commanding, back to Cliattanoojja to report to 
Major-Geneml Thomas, at Nashville, whom he had placed in connnand of all the 
troops of his military diviRion, save the four army cor[>s and cavalrv division he de- 
siirneii to move with throuj^h Georgia. With the"troops thus left at his disposal, there 
was little d .iibt that General Thomas could hold the line of the Tennessee, or, in the 
event Ho.mI should force it. would be able to concentrate and beat him in battle. It 
was therefore readily consented to that Sherman shouhl start for tlie seacoast. 

HaviiiL' concentrated his troops at Atlanta by the 14th of November, he commenced 
liis march, threatening both Augusta and Macon. His coming-out point could not 
bedetinitely ti.>:ed. Having to gather his subsistence as he m.#ched tlirouirii the 
country, it wius not impossible that a force inferior to his own might compel him to 
liead for such point as he coidd reach, instead of such as he might prefer. Tiie blind- 
ness of the enemy, however, in ignoring his movement, and sending Hood's annv, the 
only considerable force he had west of Kichmond and east of the Mississippi Kiver, 
northwanl on an offensive campaign, left the whole country open, and Shermau'a 
route to his own choice. 

How that campaign was conducted, how little opposition w.is met with, the condi- 
tion of the country through which the armies passed, the caj'ture of Fort .McAllister, 
on the Savannah Kiver, and the occupation of SaViinnah on the 21st of December, are 
all clearly set forth in General Siierman's admirable report. 

Soon after General Sherman commenced his march trom Atlanta, two expeditions, 
one from Baton Kouire, Louisiana, and one from Vieksburg, Mississippi, were started 
by General Caiiby to cut the enemy's line of communication with Mobile and detain 
troops in that field. General F'oster, commanding Department of the South, also sent 
an expedition, via Broa.l IJiver, to destroy the railroad between Charleston and Savan- 
nah. The exi>edition from Vieksburg, utider command of brevet Brigadier General 
E. n. Osl)and (colonel Third United States colored cavalrv », captured, on the 27th 
of November, and destroyed the .Mississippi Central rail road- bridge and trestle-work 
over Bisf Black River, near Canton, thirty miles of the r^ad, and two locomotives, 
be-ides large amounts of stores. The expedition from Baton Uousre was without 
lavonible results. The expedition from the Department of the South, under the im- 
mediate command of Brigadier-General John 1'. Hatch, consisting of about five 
tliousand nun of all arms, including a brigade from the navv, proceeded np Broad 
Kiver and dei)arke.i at Boyd's Neck" on the •_'9th of November, from where it moved 
to strike the railroad at Grahamsvillc. At Honey Hill, about three miles from 
Graliamsville, the enemy was found ami attacked in a'stroiitrly fortitie.l position, which 
resulted, after severe lighting, in our repulse with a loss of .Ccvcn hundred and fonv- 
8IX in kilh.'.l. wounded, and missing. During the night, General Hatch withdrew. On 
the 6th of December, (ieneral Foster obtained a position coverin? the Charleston and 
Savannah Uailroad, between the t.'oosawhutchie and Talifiiiny rivers. 

Hood, instead of following Sherman, continued his move northward, which .seemed 
to me to he leading to his certain doom. At all events, had I liad the power to coin- 
tnand both armies, 1 should not have changed the orders under which he seemed to bo 
acting. Oil the '.'Oih of (October, the advance of Hood'.- armv i\ttacked the garrison at 
Decitur, .\laliama, but failing to carry the place, with.lrew towards Courtlaiid, and 
Mieceeded, in the face of our cavalry, in effecting a lodu'inent on the north side of the 
Tennessee liivcr, near Florence, o'n the liSth, Forrest reached the Tennes.sue, at Fort 
Hiennm, and captured a gunboat niid three transports. On the Sd of November lie 
jdanted batteries above and below Joliiisoiiviile. on the opposite side of the river, 
isohiting three gunboats and eight transports. On the 4th tlie enemv opened Ids bat- 
teries upon the place, and was replied to from the gunboats and the garrison. The 
gunboats becommg disableti were set on fire, as also were the transports, to prevent 
their falling into the hands of the enemy. About a million and a half dollars' worth 
ot stores and pro]>erty on the levee and in storehouses was consumed by fire. On the 
6th the enemy di-appeared and crossed to the north side of the Telmesscc Kiver, 
above Johnsonvillo, moving towards Clifton, and suKseqiieiitlv joined Head. On the 
niirht of the .^tli, (ieneral Schofield. with the advance of th'e Twentv-third Corps, 
reached Johnsonvillo, but finding; the enemy gone, was ordered to I'lilaski, and put 



APPENDIX. 497 

in cominfknd of oil the troops thoro, with instructioiiH to wntch tho movcmonln of 
Ilootl and retard his advance, but not to risk n (joncnil ciijfinjcinont until the arrival 
of Uencriii A. J. Smitti'a command from Mituiouri, iind until General Wiljwa ooald 
(jot his cavulry rvinountcd. 

(In the I'.'th, (ienenil IIoo<l continued his advance. (lencral Thomiw, rotardinfr him 
as much us I'nssihlo, fell back towiirtls NiLshvillo for tho [iurii<>H43 of cunccnlraliu); his 
couunund iiiid ^riuiiinti: time for the arrival of re-enfori'' iii»iitj<. The cnernv comin(f up 
with our iiiiiin force, commanded by General Schoticld, nl Franklin, on ilio 8oih, ajv- 
Haulted our works repeatedly during the utltTnoon iiniil lute at ni);ht, but were in 
'every instjuice repulsed. His loss in this battle wius one thousand seven hundred and 
fifty killed, seven hundred and two prisoners, and three thou.nand eight hundred 
wounded. Among his los.scs were »i.x general officers killctl, six wounded, and one 
captured. Our entire loss waa two thousand three hundred. This was tho first 
serious opposition the enemv met with, and 1 am suti^tiid wiuh the fatal blow to all his 
e-xpectationS. During the night, Genenil Schofield fell Innk towards Nashville. This 
letl the field to the enemy— not lost by battle, but voluntarily abandoned— so that 
General Thomas's whole force might be brought together. The enemy followed up 
and commenced the establishment of his line in front of Nashville on the 2d of 
December. 

As soon as it was ascertained that Ilood was crossing tho Tennessee River, and that 
Price was going out of Missouri, General Koscerans wiw ordered to send to General 
Thomas the troops of General A. J. Smith's command, and such other troops u-s he_ 
could spare. Tho advance of this ro-enforcemont reached Nashville on the 30th of 
November. 

On the morning of the 15th December, General Thomas attacked Hood in position, 
and, in a buttle hunting two days, defeated and drove him tVom tho field in the utmost 
confusion, leaving in our hands most of his artillery and many thousand prisoners, 
including four general officers. 

Before the battle of Nashville I grew very impatient over, as it appeared to me, tho 
unnecessary delay. This impatience was increm«ed upon learning that the enemy had 
sent a force of cavalry across tho Cumberland into Kentucky. 1 feared Hood would 
cross his whole army and give us great trouble there. After urging upon General 
Thomas the nece.>isity of immediately assuming the oti'ensive, I started West to super- 
intend matters there in person. Keaching Wa.-%hington City, I received General 
Thomas's dispatch announcing his attack upon the enemy, and the result as far as 
the battle hud progressed. I was delighted. All feurs anil apprehensions were dis- 
pelled. I am not yet satisfied but that General Thomas, immediately unon tho ap- 
pearance of Hood before Nashville, and before he had time to fortify, should have 
moved out with his whole force and given him battle, instead of waiting to remount 
his cavalry, which delayed him until the inclemency of the weather made it imprac- 
ticable to iiitiick earlier than ho did. But his final defeat of Hood was so complete, 
that it will oe accepted as a vindication of that distinguished officer's judgtuent. 

After Hood's defeat at Nashville he retreated, closely pursued by cavalry and in- 
fantry, to the Tennessee River, being forced to abandon many pieces of artillery and 
most of his transportation. On the 28th of December our advanced forces ascertained 
that he had mude good his escape to the south side of the river. 

About this time, the ruins having set in heavily in Tennessee and North Alabama, 
making it difficult to move army transportation and urliUery, (tenerul Thomas sUipped 
the pursuit by his main force at tho Tennessee River. A small force of cavulry, uuiler 
Colonel W. J. I'ulmcr, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, continued to follow Hood 
for some distance, capturing considerable transportation and the enemy's ponton- 
bridge. The details of these operations will be found clearly set forth in General 
Thomas's report. 

A cavulry e.\i'edition, under brevet Major-General Grierson, started from Memphi.<« 
on the 2 1st ot December. On the 25th he surprised and captured Forrest's dis- 
mounted camp at Verona, Mi8si.-»sippi, on the Mobile und Ohio Railroad, destroyed 
the railroad, sixteen cars loaded with wagons and pontons for Hood's army, tour 
thousand new English carbines, and large amounts of public stores. On the morning 
of the 28th he attacked and captured a Kirce of the enemy at Kgypt, and destroyed a 
train of fourteen cars ; thence turning to the southwest, he struck the Mi.«»issippi 
Central Rmlroad at Winona, destroyed the factories und lurge amounts t>f stores at 
Bankston, ami tho machine-sh^'ps and public pro{>crty at lirenada, arriving at Vioka- 
burg January 5th. 

During these operations in Middle Tcnneaseo, the enemy, with a force under Gen- 
eral Breckinridge, entered East Tennes.scc. On the \Mh of November ho attacked 
General Giilein, near Morristown, capturing his artillery und several himdre<l pri.son- 
eni. Giilem, with what was left of lus command, retreated to Knoxville. FoUowing 



^gg GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 




man couccniraiea lue i;uuiiuttiiu= ui va^^o^i^o ^jrbridge aud Gillem near Bean's 
Slaiiyu, to operate against Breckinridge, and destroy or drive him into Virginisr— 
destroy' the salt-works at SaltviUe, and the railroad into Virginia as far as he covild go 
willioul endangering his command. Ou the l2th of December he commenced his 
movement, capturing and dispersing the enemy's forces wherever he met them. On 
the 16th he struck the enemy, under' Vaugu, at Marion, completely routing and pur- 
suing him to Wytheville, capturing all his artillery, trains, aud one hundred and nine- 
ty-eight prisoners ; and destroyed Wytheville, with its stores and supplies, and the 
extensive lead-works near there. Koturuing to Marion, he met a force under Breck- 
inridge, consisting, among other troops, of the garrison of Saltville, that had started 
in pursuit. He at once made arrangements to attack it the next morning ; but morn- 
ing found Breckinridge gone. He tlien moved directly to Saltville, and destroyed the 
extensive suli-works at that place, a large amount of stores, and captured eight pieces 
of artillery. Having thus successfully executed his instructions, he returned General 
Burbridge to Lexington and General Gillem to Knoxville. 

Wilmington, Morth Carolina, wa.s the most important seacoast port left to the ene- 
niv through which to get supplies from abroad, aud send cotton and other products 
out by blockade-runners, besides being a place of great strategic value. The navy had 
been maldng strenuous exertions to seal the harbor of Wilmington, but with only par- 
tial eUect. The nature of the outlet of Cape Fear Kiver was such, that it required 
watching for so great a distance that, without possession of the land north of New 
Inlet, or Fort Fisner, it was impossible for the navy to entirely close the harbor against 
the entrance of blockade-runners. 

To secure the possession of this land required the co-operation of a land force, 
which 1 agreed to furnish. 1 immediately commenced the assemblage iu Hampton 
Koads, under Admiral D. D. Porter, of the most formidable armada ever collected tor 
concentration upon one given point. This necessarily attracted the attention of the 
enemy, as well as that of the loyal North; aud through the imprudence of the public 
press, aud very likely of officers of both branches of service, the exact object of the 
expedition became a subject of common discussion iu the newspapers both North and 
South. The enemy, thus warned, prepared to meet it. This caused a postponement 
of the expedition until the latter part of November, when, being again called upon by 
Hon. G. V. Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1 agreed to furnish the men re- 
quired at once, aud went myself, in company with Major-General Butler, to Hampton 
Koads, whore we had a conference with Admiral Porter as to the force required and 
the time of starting. A force of six tliousaud live hundred men was regarded as &\it- 
ficieut. The time of starting was not definitely arranged, but it was thought all would 
be ready by the 'Jlh of December, if not before. Learning, ou tlie SOth ol November, 
that Bragg had gone to Georgia, taking with him most of tlie forces about \\ ilmington, 
1 deemed it of the utmost imporunce that the expedition sliould reach its destiuauon 
before the return of Bragg, and directed General Butler to make all arrangeinentfi tor 
the departure of Major-General Weitzel, who had beeu designated to command the land 
forces, so that the navy might not be doUiued one moment. 
On the 6th of December, the following iustruclious were given : 

" Cmr Point, Va., December 6, 1864. 

"GKNKBAL-The flrst oWect of the expedition under General Weit2ol is to close to the enemy 
the iM.rt of Wiliiui.L-lon. If successful in this, the second will bo to capture \\, iluiinilon itSclL 
There »re r...is«.mble grounds to Uo|.e for success, if adviuitage can be taken of the absence of the 
greater part of tlio euomy's forces now loi>kii.g after Sherman in Georgia. The d reitions >ou 
hive Ji^n for the umuhL and e-juipuient of the expedinon are all right, except in the "">m^rt. 
ant mailer of where Ihey embark and the amount of intrenching tooU to be taken. 1 lie OOjecl ol 
the expedition will be gained by elVecling a landing on the main land between Lape tear Kjer and 
the Atlantic north of ihe north entrance to the river. Should such landing be effvcted whiUt 
the enemy sUll hol.U Fort Fisher and the batteries guarding the ''nt"»<--V"'/M?/''Y- ,.f" ,„d 
iroops should intrench li.emselves. and, by co-operaling will, the navy, eirect lli^/p "'^° "f 
capluro of tl.os« place*. Tbesi. in our hands, the navy could enter the harbor, a^nd »>«•««'; 
A\^lu.l..glon would bo sealed. Should Fort Fisher and the point ol land on ^''j''^,^, 'V* **"''\^ 
Into the hands of our tr.H,ps inimed.alely on Uinding. then it will bo ^^^^/^^''-^^'P^ .^^^.^tK 
Wilminglon by a forced march and ...urprise. If tune is consumed in gaming the lir=t object of 
the expedition, the s«.-cond will become a matter of after consideration. „j „» 

"The details for execution are IntrusUd to you and the officer immediately in command of 

' -8h!mid the troops under Qonoral WelUel fail to effects landing at or near Fort Fisher, they 
will bo rolurned to iho armioa operaUng agaiusi lilchmond without celay. 

•• U. S. Qbast, Lieulenaui-GeneraL 

"HajoB-GuiKBAi. 11 K. BgiLKB." 



APPENDIX. 499 

Gcncrftl Butler commfimlin^r the nrmy from which the troop* wore ukcn for this 
enterprise, an. I the territory within which they wero to oj'crnto, iniliUry oourtcny re- 
quireil that all onlen* and insirnetions HhouM jfo ihrouj^h him. Tlioy were bo nenl ; 
but tieneral Wcitzel has wince officially infornioJ mo that ho never roouivod the fore- 
going instructiunH, nor was he awaro of tlieir existence, until he rcn<l (ienernl Bnt- 
ler'b publi-heJ otHcial report of the Fort Fisher failure, with niy in.hir-<crnciit and 
pa[>ers aocoiiipatiying it. I had ik> idea of (ieneral Hutler'ii acconipanyinkf the expe- 
dition until the eveiiini; before it irot olT from Bermuda Hundred, and tli<ii did not 
dream but that (ieneral WeiUel had received all the in!«truction^ and w.uld be in 
command. I rather fonned the idea that General Butler was actuated by a dcuire to 
wiluc.H.s the clfect of the explosion of the powder-boat. The expedition wa-t deloiued 
several days at Hampton Koiids, awaitiiiif the loading of the powder-boal. 

The imporunce of gettim; Uic Wilmington expedition otf without any delay, willi 
or without the p«.wder-boal, had been urged upon General Butler, and he advLted to 
BO nutify Admiral I'orter. 

The expedition tiniilly got otf on the 13th of December, and arrived at the place of 
rendezvous, otf New Inlet, near Fort Fi.sher, on the evening of the 16th. Admiral 
Porter arrived on the evening of the l&tli, having put in at Beaufort to get ammuni- 
tion for the monitors. The .sea becoming rougli, making it difficult to land troo[>e, 
and the .tupply of water and coal being about exhausted, tiie transport fleet put back 
to Beaufort to replenish ; thi.s, with the .nUte of the weather, delayed the return to 
the place of rendezvous until the 'i.^th. The powder-boat was exploded on the morn- 
ing of the '24th, before the return of General Butler from Beaufort ; but it would 
seem, from the notice taken of it in the Southern newspapers, that the enemy were 
never enlightened as to the object of the explosion until they were informed by the 
Korlhern {>ress. 

On the Joth a landing was etlectcd without opposition, and a reconnois-sance, under 
brevet Brigadier-General Curtis, pushed up towards the fort. But before receiving a 
full report of the result of this reconnoissance. General Butler, in direct violation of 
the in-structjons given, ordered the re-embarkation of the troo[>s and the return of 
the expedition. The re-embarkation was accomplished by the morning of the 'J7th. 

On the return of the expedition, officers and men— among them brevet Major-Gen- 

eral (then brevet Brigadier-General) M. K. Curtis, First-Lieutenant G. W. Koss, 

regiment Vermont Volunteers, First-Lieutenant George W. \VaJlin^, and Second- 
Lieutenant George Simpson, One Hundred and Forty-second New \ork Volunteers 
— volunurily reported to me that when recalled they wero nearly into the fort, and, 
in their opinion, it could have been etfected without much loss. 

Soon alter the return of the expedition, I received a dispatch from the Secrotarv of 
the Navy, and a letter from Admiral Porter, informing me that the fleet was still off 
Fort Fisher, and expressing the conviction that, under a proper leader, the place 
could be taken. The natural supposition with me was, that when the troops aban- 
doned the expedition, the navy would do so al-so. Finding it had not, however, 1 an- 
swered on the 80th of December, advising Admiral Porter to hold on, and that I 
would send a force and make another attempt to take the place. This time I selected 
brevet .Major-Genoral (now Major-tieneral) A. H. Terry to command the expedition. 
The troops composinjf it consisted of the same that composed the former, with the 
adiiition of a small brigade, nunibering about one thousand Ave hundred, and a small . 
siege-truin. The latter it was never found necessary to land. I communicated direct 
to the commander of the Lxi'cdition the foljuwiiiir insirucliens : 

" Cm Ponrr, Va^ January 8, IStt. 

"GcfKRAL — The o\[" .ll'.i.n li.tra«to<l t<i your commanil hu be«n fitt^'d oat to r.n.'w the at- 
tempt to capturf Fort Ki>Iiit, N. ('.. axi'l WLiiiincton uilliii»toly. If iho fiTt fa's. V^u will then 
procfi-<l witli ».» Ilttii- lie. ay as [hwiH.Ic to th- naval ll.i-t lylns otT Cajn. Kcar VA\>t, aii'l r.i-.rl tbo 
arrival of yourself anil coii'inianJ ti> Admiral U. I). I'ortcr,' commanding North Aliaiilic UlockaillDy 
Squaitrun. 

- It \f. cxcoo<llnBly desirable that tJio m..<t .'.-.mp!.-!.-< iin ;rr«'»n.!lnc «h tiM ''•tl^t b«tw>Tn ynnntU 
and the naval riiiiimAndiT. I »i.j- . " ' ■ and 

pel fi'oiii him the part to b« pcrf ■ y be 

unity of action. It wouM bo *■■ •av* 

»«Tvi'd wiih Admiral Porter. an<l ^r. .v i' ii ;. . . .i-. r. v .: Irr- 

take what lie proi>"»<'s. I woul.l, ih.'r.-f..r.', .'ifffr to hliii »« "Wn 

r«l««nsllillitio» Tt).- r'.r«: .i';,- t m >... -.-tnin. ! I< to ^.t a r". > tilch 

F<.rt Kislirr 1- • -V.- 

Ucabillty of r • ••• 

you by any • : • «• 

of Fort FisluT wi.i r..it ;-■ «• :v. '.■■i..-; wr.-.l, lu r. ;i.i-;;.ii, ij ».-cniiii..l?lii-.l, -r .\:iui:.,r ;'.»;. ■■! raui- 
paLen Is onlere<l from thrv ti-'.-i.lijinrtj'r^ 

" My own views are, that. If yuu efli-ct • landing, tb« oary ought to run a portion of their flcvl 



500 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

Into Cape Fear Blver, while the balance of !t operate* on the outside. Land forces cannot invest 
Fort I- isher, or cat it off from supplies or re-enforcements, while the river is in possession of 
the eDriiiy. 

" A lif^e-train will be loaded on vessels and sent to Fort Monroe, in readiness to be sent to you 
If rtquircJ. All other supplies can be drawn from Beaufort as you need them. 

" Keep the fleet-vessels with you until your position is assured. When -you find they can be 
spared, order them back, or such of them as you can spare, to Fort Monroe, ti report fur onlers. 

" In case of failure to effect a landing, brins your command back to Beaufort, and report to theae 
headquarters for further instructions. You will not debark at Beaufort until so directed. 

*• General Sheridan has been ordered to send a division of troops to Baltimore, and place them 
on sea-going vessels. These troops will be brought to Fort Monroe and kept there on the vessels 
until you are heard from. Should you require tbem, they will be sent to you. 

"U. 8. Gbakt, Lleutenant-GeneraL 

" Beevkt iS.AJOB.-GBSK&AL A. H. Teebt."" 

Lieutenant-Colonel C. B. Comstock, aid-de-camp (now brevet brigadier-general), 
who uecouipunied the former expedition, was as.signed, in orders, as chief-engineer to 
thLx. 

It will be seen that these instructions did not differ materially from those given for 
the first expedition; and that in neither iu.stance was there an order to assault Fort 
Fisher. Tnis was a mutter left entirely to the discretion of the commanding officer. 

The expedition sailed from Fort Monroe on the morning of the 6th. arriving at the 
rendezvous, oil" Beaufort, on the Sth, where, owing to the difficulties of the weather, it 
lay until the morning of the 12th, when it got under way and reached its de.-^tination 
that evening. Under cover of the fleet, the disembarkation of the troops commenced 
on the morning of the 13th, and by three o'clock p. m. was completed without loss. 
On the 14th a reconnoissance was pushed to within five hundred yards of Fort Fisher, 
and a siiii.ili advance work taken possession of and turned into a defensive line against 
any attempt that might be made from tlie fort. This reconnoissance disclosed the 
fact that the front of the work had been seriously injured by the navy fire. In the 
afternoon of the 15th the fort was assaulted, and alter most desperate fighting was 
captured, with its entire garrison and armament. Thus was secured, by the com- 
bined efforts of the navy and army, one of the most important successes of the 
war. Our loss was : killed, one hundred and ten ; wounded, five hundred and 
thirty-si.x. On the 16th and 17tii the enemy abandoned and blew up Fort Caswell and 
the works on Smith's Island, which were immediately occupied oy us. This gave 
us entire control of the mouth of the Cape Fear River. 

At my request, Major-General B. F. Butler was relieved, and Major-General E. 0. 
0. Ord a>*8igned to the Department of Virginia and North Carolina. 

The defence of the line of the Tennessee no longer requiring the force which 
bad beaten and nearly destroyed tlie only army threatening it, I determined to find 
other fields of operation for General Thomas's surplus troops— fields from which 
they wtiuld co operate with other movements. General Thomas was therefore di- 
rected to collect all troops, not essential to hold his communications at Eastport, in 
readiness for orders. On the 7th of Jaimary, General Thonuis was directed, if he was 
assured of the departure of Hood south from Corinth, to send General Schofield with 
his corps east with as little delay as possible. This direction was promptly com- 
plied with, and the advance of the corps reached Washington on the 23d of the same 
month, whence it was sent to Fort Fisher and Newberu. On the 26th he wius directed 
to send General A. J. Smith s command and a division of cavalry to report to General 
Canby. By the 7th of Februarj' the whole force wa-s en route for its destination. 

The State of North Carolina was constituted into a military department, and Gen- 
eral Schofield assigned to command, and placed under the orders of Major-General 
Sherman. The following instructions were given him : 

"City Point, Va., January 31, 1S6B. 
"GeneraI/ — • • • Your movements are intended as co-operative with Sherman through 
the States of South and North Carolina. The first point to be atuiined is to secure Wilmington. 
Goldsborii' will then bo your objective point, moving either from Wilminirton or Newhern, or both, 
as you deem best Should you not be able to reacli ti.ildsboro', you will advance on tlie line or 
lines of railwiiy connecting that place with the seaiv>a.<t— its near to it a.s you Ciin, building the 
rottil behind you. The enterprise under you has two objects : the first is to give General Sherman 
material ulil, if needed, in his march north ; the second, to ojn^n a ba.<e of supplie.H for him on his 
lino of march. A» soon, therefore, as vi-u can iletermine which of the two noints, Wilmington or 
Newberu. you can hest iu»e for throwini; supplied from to the interior, you will commence the accu- 
miilHlloii of twenty day.t' rations and funwe for jixty Uioiisiuiil men and twenty thou.*and animals. 
You will get of thCKH' as many as you oiui liouse and prott>ct to such point in Uie interior as you 
may lie able to occupy. 1 believe General I'ninier has received some Instruclion.s dirxt from Gen- 
em! Sherinnn on the subject of securing supplies for his army. You can learn what steps he has 
taken, .'\n>l bo governed in your ruqubiliuus accordingly. A supply of ordnance stores will also be 
necMieary. 



APPENDIX. 501 

"Nfdko all reqnlslllons upon tho rhtoh of ihclr roupcollvo <l.<p«rtm.'ntj» In Iho floM with me »t 
City I'oint. CViniiuunlmti- with iiip by cvi-ry op|«.rtunllv ; »ni| ohouM you <l«)in U ncc«»»»ry »l 
any tlino, wml a »i>ccl»l h(i»l to KorlreM Monroe, fnun which jHiInt you rmn communicate hy t«l<^ 
graph. 

" Tho dupplles referred to In IheM InBtrnctlons arc exrlnMvo of Ihooo re<jolre<l for your own 
cominnml. , 

"The movement* of tho enemy may Jiintlfy, or oven make It your Impnratlve iln'v, l<. nil lo..... 
from your ha-io. and strike for tho Intorlor to nifl Sherman. In »uch ra.vi you will «• ■ 
ludijinont, without waltlnii for Instruction*. You will r. |>.irt, hMwever, whut you i 
The il.'tftlls for oarrvlnn out tlioao Instruction" are noco'i^nrlly lofl to you. 1 w.iul 1 '■ 
If I (lid not know tliat you are already ftilly alive to the lm|M)rt«nco of It, proiiipt action ^UcnIlan 
may he looked for In the nelKlihorhood of'Ooldsboro" any timo from tho iul U> tho Wth of Jebfu- 
ary; thl-s linills your time vorv materially. 

"If rollin(i-»U)ck Is not i».>cured In the capture of Wllmlntrton. It can be «npplle.l from Washlnc- 
ton. A larire force of railroad-men have nlrumly Ihvii vnl Ui H.'anfort, an. I ..iilt mechanic* 
will go to Fort Flshor la a day or two. On this point I have Informal you by t.'l<'4raph 

"U. 8. Okast, Uautonant-Oencral. 

"MAJoa-GucsRaL J. M. SoBonstD." 

Previous to (fivinir the.><o instructions I hnd v-iaitc<l Fort Fi^hcrj accompanied by 
General Sehofioldj for the purpose of seein? for myself tho condition of thinir<, and 
personally conferring with General Terry and Admiral Porter as to what was beat to 
DC done. 

Antioipatini; tho arrival of General Sherman at Savannah — his army ontirely fo^-t- 
loose, Hood bcin^r then before Na.-*hvil!o, Tcniicssoe, tho Southern railr.inU l.-^T'iv. d, 
80 that it would take several months Jto re-e.-<tablish a throuirh-lino from w.-r '.■> •x-f, 
and resjardin^r the capture of Lee's army a.s tho most important opcmtion tiwiird- 
closinir the rebellion — I sent orders to Gi-ncral Sherman on tho 6th ot Deoem')LT, that 
after cstablishin)? a base on the seacoa-st, with necessary garrison, to include all his 
artillerv and cavalry, to come by water to Citv Point with the balance of his command. 

On the ISth of I)ecember, havins: received information of the defeat and utter rout 
of Hood's army by General Thomas, and that, owin^r to tho groat ditlloalty of procur- 
injT ocean transportation, it would take over two months to transport Sherman's army, 
and doubting whether ho might not contribute a.s much towards tho desired result by 
operating from where ho was, I wrote to him to that etfoct, and asked him for hi."* 
views as to what would be best to do. A few days after this I received a c^immunica- 
tion from General Sherman, of date 16th December, acknowledging the receipt of ray 
order of the 6th, and informing mo of his preparations to carry it into cife - us sotm 
as he could get transportation. Also that ho had expected, upon reducins^ S:ivannah, 
instantly to march to Columbia, South Carolina, thence to Raleigh, and thence to re- 
port to 'me; but that this would consume about si.K week.s' timo atlcr tho fall of 
feavannah, whereas by sea he could probably reach mo by tho middle of January. 
The confidence he manifested in this letter of being able to march up and join me 
pleased me, and, without waiting for a reply to my letter of the ISth, I directed him, 
on the 28th of December, to make preparations to start, as lie proposed, without 
delay, to break up tho niilroatls in North and South Carolina, and join the annie-s 
operating against Kichmond as soon as ho could. . 

On the '21st of January I inf )rined General Sherman that I had ordered the Twenty- 
third Corps, Major-General Schorteld commanding, east ; that it liuinbere 1 about twi-nty- 
one thousand men; that we liail at Fort Fishor. aljout eight thousand inoii ; at New- 
born about four thousand: that if Wilmington was captured, General Schofleld would 
go there ; if not, he would bo sent to Nowbern ; that, in either event, all th« «urpln<. 
force at both points would move to the interior towards Goldsboro', in 
with his movement; lliat from either p'lint radroad commauication . 
out ; and that all those troops would bo subject to hii» orders as ho came i: 
nication with them. 

In obedience to his instmctionn. General Sohofiold proceeded to reduce Wilming- 
ton, North Carolina, in co-operation with the navy under Admiral Porter, moving hia 
force-s up both sides of tho Capo Fear Kivor. Fort Anders<jn, tho enemy's main de- 
fence on tho west bank of tho river, was occupied on tho morning of the 13th, the 
enemy having evacuated it at^er our appearance bet'oro it. 

After fighting on '.iOth and 2lst, our troops entered Wilmington on the morning of 
the 22tl, the enemy having retreated towards Goldsboro' during th<- ii;.".t. Preparu- 
tions wer« at once made for a movement on Goldsboro' in two >- from 

Wilmington, and tha/othor fr"n\ N"wb«rn — and to repair tho rai'.' • there 

from each place, as \v ' ' rin.iu b^' <."apo K .- !h 

Fayetteville, if it U . from Newborn « 

&th of March at W . with tho lo»s ■ : - I 

prisoners. On the lUu iLo uuciuy rouuwud uu attack upon our intrcucucd ^oo.uom, 



,502 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

but was repahed with severe loss, and fell back daring the night. On the 14th the 
Neuse River was crossed and Kineton occupied, and on the 21st Goldsboro' was en- 
tered. The column from Wilmington reached Cox's Bridge, on the Neuse Eiver, tei. 
miles above Goldsboro', on the 22d. 

By the 1st of February, General Sherman's whole army was in motion from Savan- 
nah. He captured Columbia, South Carolina, on the 17th ; thence moved on Golds- 
boro', North Carolina, via Fayetteville, reaching the latter place on the 12th of March, 
opening up communication with General Schofield by way of Cape Fear River. On 
the 15th ne resumed his march on Goldsboro'. He met a force of the enemy at 
Averysboro', and after a severe fit^ht defeated and compelled it to retreat. Our loss 
in the engagement was about si.\ hundred. The enemy s loss was much greater. On 
the 18th the combined forces of the enemy, under General Johnston, attacked his ad- 
vance at Bentonville, capturing three guns and driving it back upon the main body. 
General Slocum, who was in the advance, ascertaining that the whole of Johnston's 
army wius in the front, arranged his troops on the defensive, intrenched himself and 
awaited re-enforcements, which were pushed forward. On the night of the 21st the 
enemy retreated to Smithfield, leaving his dead and wounded in our hands. From 
there Slierman continued to Goldsboro', which place had been occupied by General 
Schofield on the 21st (crossing the Neuse River ten miles above there, at Cox's Bridge, 
where General Terry had got possession and thrown a ponton-bridge on the 22d), 
thus forming a junction with the columns from Ncwbern and \Vili7iin?ton. 

Among the important fruits of this campaisrn was the fall of Charleston, South 
Carolina. It was evacuated by the enemy on the night of the 17th of February, and 
occupied by our forces on the 18th. 

On the morning of the 81st of January, General Thomas was directed to send a 
cavalry expedition, under General Stoneman, from East Tennessee, to penetrate South 
Carolina well down towards Columbia, to destroy the railroads and military' resources 
of the country, and return, if he was able, to East Tennessee by way of Salisbury, 
North Carolina, releasing our prisoners there, if possible. Of the feasibility of this 
latter, however. General Stoneman was to judge. Sherman's movements, 1 had no 
doubt, would attract the attention of all the force the enemy could collect, and facili- 
tate the execution of this. General Stoneman was so late in making his start on 
this expedition (and Sherman having passed out of the State of South Carolina), on 
the 27tn of February I directed General Thomas to change his course, and ordered 
him to repeat his raid of last fall, destroying the railroad towards Lynchburg as far 
as he could. This would keep him between our garrisons in East Tennessee and the 
enemy. 1 regarded it not impossible that in the event of the enemy being driven 
from Richmond, he might fall back to Lynchburg and attempt a raid north through 
East Tennessee. On the 14th of February the following communication was sent to 
General Thomas : 

"Crrr Poist, Va., February 14, 1565. 

" Genera) Canby is preparing a movement from Mobile Bay against Mobile and tiie interior of 
Alabama. His force will consist of about twenty thousand men, besides A. J. Smith's command. 
The cavalry you have sent to Canby will be debarked at VIcksburg. It, with the av.ailable cav- 
alry already m that section, will move from there eastward, in co-operation. Hood's army has 
been terribly reduced by the severe punishment you gave it in Tennessee, by desertion conse- 
quent upon their defeat, and now by the withlrawal of inany of them to oppose i<herman. ( I take 
it a Isrse portion of the inf»ntry has been so withdrawn. It is s<> a-serteil In the Kichmond papers, 
aod a member of the rebel Congress siiiil a few days since in a speech, that one-half of it had been 
brought to South Carolina li> oppose Sherman.) This b.ein<j true, or even if it is not true, Canby's 
movement will attract all the attention of the enemy, and leave the advance from your stand- 
point ea^y. I think it advisable, therefore, that you prepare as much of a cavalry force as you 
can spare, and held it in readiness to go south. The object would be threefold : first, to attrf ct as 
much of the enemy's force as possible, to Insure succe.ss to Canby ; second, to destroy the enemy's 
lino of communlcatiiin> and military resources; third, to destroy or capture their forces brought 
Into the fleld. Tuscaloosa and Selma would probably be tl^e' points to direct the exiiedition 
ai^ainsL This, however, would not be so imiH)rtaTit as the iiure tact of penetralins ileep into 
Alabama. Discretion should bo left to the otlicer commanding the expedition to co where, accord- 
ln.j to the information he may receive, he will best secure the objects named above. 

" Now that your force has been so much depleted, I do not know what number of men you 
can put Into thu field. If not more than five thousand men, however, all cavalry, I think It will 
hf sufllclenL It Is not desirable that you should start this expedition until the one leaving 
Vicksburg has been three or four days out, or even a week. I do not know when It will start, 
but win Inform you by telegraph as soon as I learn. If you should hear through oth*r sources 
before hearing from me, you can act on the information received. 

•To Insure success, your cavalry should go with as little wagon-train as possible, relying upon 
the country for supplies. I would also reduce the number of guns to a battery, or the number of 
^«lt^frie^ and put the extra teams to the guus taken. No guns or caissons should b* taken with 
Irw than eight horses. 



APPENDIX. 603 

" MajoeOb.mil*!. O. U. Thomas." 

On the l.Mh, he wan directed to start the expedition aa soon after Uie 20th ne he 

'^l dt^iK-d 'it'of tlic utmost importance, before a ecnoral movement of the armie>« 
operalini? !i>t»i'>»t Kichiiu.ii.l, that all ooinmunieati..ii!« with the city, north ot James 
KivtT, should be out off. The enemy having wilJidrawii the bulk ot his forecj from tUc 
Shenandoah Volley and sent it south, or replaced troops sent fr'>HJ Kichni..n;i, ana ae- 
siriuK to rc-fhlorce Sherman, if praclioaMe, wh"se cavalry wns ^rvallv mtcnor in 
numbern f. that of the enemy, I detonnined to make a m..vo from the hh.-nandoah, 
which, if -succos.sful, would accomplish the first at least, and possibly the latter ol 
these objects. 1 therefore telegraphed General Sheridan as followa 

"Cttt Ponrr, Va^ Febmary 80. l'»«5-l r. M. 
" Ok.-kkal-.\» soon as It Is possible to travel. I think you will have no dlfflcolty »U..it reaching 
Lynchbi.rc wlih a caTnlry force alone. From there yon could di-'troy tb« rallroKl »n'l <•»"»''" 
every diriTti..n. so a., to bo of no further us*> to the reU-lllon. Sufllrlonl <-»valry M...u M !"• left b«- 
blnd to look «fU-r Mos>«.by-« eanR. From Lynchbum. If information you mitsht g.-i <>';■■;•; J*""'^ 
Justify It, you coul.l ^trlko sx.u'h, beading tbo Mr.ams In Virginia to tb.- wcMwsrd of Panjille 
ind push on and join General Shermnn. Tbl.H a.Mltlonal ral.l with one now about starting f^om 
East Ten nev^oe under Stoneman. numbcrinit four or flvo thousand eavalry, one from \ irksburs, 
naniberlnK seven or elRbt thou^nd cavalry, one from Ea»t|.ort, Mississippi ton ib""'*'"» ~;;'.7/ 
Canbv fi-om Mobile Bsy. with about thlrtv-mrbt thousand mlxe<l trw.p^ these tbnH> latter p^isl.- 
ine fo'r Tuscaloosa, Selma, an.l Montvo.nery. and Sherman with a larce •'Pr ••»»'"f ""' r'jT^'l 
ofSouth Carolina, Is all that will be wanU>d to leave nothing for the rebellion to stan.l upon 
would a.lTi.-e you to overcome great obstacle* to accomplish thl.^ Charleston was ''^J^"";;'' 
Tuesday last. U. 8. Grant. i^lentenant-Oeneral. 

"^LaJOB-GeKBKAI.P. H SnEKIDAJi." 

On tho2.'.th I received a dispatch from General Sheridan, inquiring where Shcm :i 
was aiming for, and if I could jrive him definite information as to the points he nj 
be expected to move on, this side of Charlotte, North Carolina. In answer, the b u, • s 
ing tuegram was sent him : 

" Crrr Poiirr, Va.. February 25, ISm. 

" GEiniBAi.— Sherman's movements will depend on the amonnt of opposition be meets with 
from the enemy. If strongly opposed, he may poaslbly have to fall back to ^'"JP'-'"'*"- =; • 
and at out for a new start f think, however, all dancer for the necessity of go ns '» "« P" "' 
has passed. I believe he has passed Charlotte. He may take Fayettevllle on hn «a) t'^ Oo''>" 
borJ-. If vou reach Lynchburg, you will have to be guided In your after movements hv the Infor- 
mation yoii obtain. Before you could p.».ssibly reach Sherman, I think you would «''> ^'m mov- 
ingfrotn GoMsboro" towar.ls Raleigh, or engagingtbe enemy stronglyp.*ted atone or l^e other of 
these places, with railway communications open^ from bU army to Wilmington or Newbem. 

" U. 8. Gba-tt, LleuUnant-Goneral. 

" ]1ajor-Ge:(kbal P. H. Shekidar." 

General Sheridan moved from Winchester on the 27th of Febniarj-, with ««■<> jj'^,;- 
sions of cavalrv, numbcrinir about five thousand each. On the 1st ot flarch lu 
secured tlw hridgc, which the enemv attempted to destroy, across the m.ddle lork ot 
the Shcna„.loah, it .Mount Crawford. anJ entered Staunton on '»>«^''-.^»'° «"«"'-: 
havinir retr.ated to Waynesboro'. Thenco he pushed on to Waynesbo o , where e 
fouud the enemy in force in an intrenched position, under (.eneral Larl>. WUhout 
stopping to make a reconnois.nance, an immediate attack was male, the position wx-j 
carried,^nd .sixteen hundred prisoners, eleven pieces of artillerv, with liorsea a^ 
cais.*o„; complete, two hundred wagons and teams loaded w.lF. ;\»>-.'^.\!;"«=' "" '' 
seventeen battle-fla.^. were capt.md. The prisoners, under an c-^^-rt .; « }ccm h i .- 
dred men. were .sent back to' Winchester. Thenee he marched on ( harlott«.% i e 
deatroyin/ etfectuallv the railroa.1 and hridifes as he vvent which he ^cached on tli. 
»d Ilerehe remainel two davs, .lestroying the railroad towards H.-b-nond and 
Lynchbure. includinir the larjfe iron bridges over the north an.l - 
Rivanna Kivor and awaiting the arrival ot hia trams. Ihis neo» - 
him to abandon the idea of capturing Lynchburkf. On the morn • _ ,,.,,, 

viding his force into two columns, he sent one to ScotUviUe, whenc* il murc.od ., 
the James Kiver Canal to New Market, destroying every lock, and in many places the 
i!i!.k of the canal. From here a forec'was pushed out from this column to "Mfu.ds- 
ville to obtain pos-nession of the bridge acr.»s the James Kiyer at that place, but 
faded The eneav burned it on our approach. The enemy al.*o ^"n.e. die bndge 
across the river kt Uardwirk.viUe. the other column moved down the r»ilroad 



504 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

towards Lynchburg, destroying it as far as Amherst Courthouse, sixteen miles from 
Lynchburg; thence across tlie country, uniting with the cohiinn at New Market. 
The river beinitf very high, his pontons would not reach across it; and the enemy 
having destroyed the bridges bv which he had hoped to cross the river and get on 
the Southside Railroad about f'aruu'iUe, and destroy it to Appomattox Courtnouee, 
the only thing letl for him was to return to Winchester or strike a baae at the White 
House. Fortunately, he chose the latter. From New Market he took up his line of 
march, following the canal towards Richmond, destroying every lock upon it and cut- 
ting the banks wherever practicable, to a point eight miles east of Goochland, con- 
centrating the whole force at Columbia on the 10th. Here he rested one day, and 
Kent through by scouts informdtion of his whereabouts and purposes, and a request 
for supplies to meet him at White House, which reached me on tne night of the 12th. 
An infantry force was immediately sent to get possession of White House, and sup- 
plies were forwarded. Moving from Columbia in a direction to threaten Richmond, 
to near Ashland Station, he crossed the Annas, and after having destroyed all the 
bridges and many miles of the railroad, jiroceuded down the north bank of the Pa- 
munkcy to White House, which place ho reached on the 19th. 
Previous to this the following communication was sent to General Thomas : 

"City Point. Vs., March 7, 1866—9:30 a. m. 
" Gen-ebal— I think It will be advisable now for you to repair the railroad in East Tennessee, 
and throw a frood force up to Bull's Gap and fortify there. Supplies at Knoxville could always be 

fot forward as required. With BulTs Gap fortified, you can occupy as outposts about all of E«t 
'ennessee, and be prepared, if it should be required of you in the sprinc, to make a campaign to- 
wards Lynchburg, or inU> North Carolina. I do not think Stoneman should break the road until 
he eeta into Virginia, unless it should be to cut off rolling-stock that may be caught weet of that. 

" U. S. Gkant, Heutenant-GeneraL 
" Majob-Genebal G. n. TuouAS." 

Thus it will be seen that in March, 1865, General Canby was moving an adequate 
force against Mobile and the army defending it under General Dick Taylor ; 
Thomas was pushing out two large and well-appointed cavalry e.xpeditions—one 
from Middle Tennessee under brevet Major-General Wilson against the enemy's vital 
points in Alal)aniii, the other from East Tennessee, under Major-General Stoneman, 
towards Lynchburg— and a.ssemhling the remainder of his available forces, prepara- 
tory to otfensive operations from East Tennessee ; General Sheridan's cavsUry was at 
White House ; the Armies of the Potomac and James were confronting the enemy, 
under Lee, in his defences of Richmond and Petersburg ; General Sherman with his 
armies, re-enforced by that of General Schofield, was at Goldsboro' ; General Pope 
was making preparations for a spring campaign against the enemy under Kirby 
Smith and Price, west of the Mississijipi ; and General Hancock was coneentratin? 
a force in the vicinity of Winchester, Virginia, to guard against invasion or to 
operate otfensively, as might prove nece!*sary. ' 

After the long march by General Sheridan's cavalry over winter roads, it was ne- 
ce8.sary to rest and refit at White House. At this time the greatest source of uneasi- 
ness to me was the fear that the enemy would leave his strong lines about Petersburg 
and Richmond for the purpose of uniting with Johnston, before he was driven 
from them by battle, or 1 was prepared to make an elTectual pursuit. On the 24th of 
March, General Sheridan moved from Wliite House, crossed the James River at 
Jones' Landing, and formed a junction with the Army of the Potomac m front of 
Petersburg on the 27tli. During this move, General Ord sent Ibrces to cover the 
crossings of the Chickahominy. 

On tlie 24th of March the following instructions for a general movement of the 
armies operating against Richmotid were issued : 

"Crrr Point, Va., March 24, 18ft5. 

"Oenekal— On the 29th Instant the armies operatinc; against Kichmond will be moved by our 
left, for 111.' dcublo purnoso of turning the enemy out of his present position around Petersburg, aiid 
t.. lufuro the success of the CRViilry under General Sheridan, which will start at the same Ume, in 
lU ffforls to reach and destroy the SfUilisido and Danville Uailr..ads, Two corj* v( the Arun- of 
the l'..l..mac will bo moved at Orst in two columns, taking the two roads cr.>s^ing Hatcher sl.iin, 
nearest *vhere the 4)ro(i«nt line held by us strikes that stream, both moving lowaids Dlnwldilie 
CourthoiiM". , „ 1 -r, ■ '■■ 

The cavalry under General Sheridan, Joined by the division now under General Davies, will 
move at Uio same tlino bv the Weldon n^ail and Iho Jerusalem plankroad, turning west from the 
latter before crowing the'iiottuway, ami wi>«t with the whole column belbro reaching Stoney Creek. 
General Sheridan will then move indepcn.leiitlv, under other Instructions which will be given 
tilia All dlMiicunted cavalrv belonging to llie Armv of the Potomac, and the dismounted cavalry 
from the middle military division not required for guarding property belonging to their wm of 
•crvlc*, will report Ui UrlgaOier-General Benham, to be added to the defence* of City Point. 



APPENDIX. 506 



Mulor-Oenprnl Psrko will bo loft In cormii«n<l of nil t»io nrmr loft for hoMlnR the llnw »b..ut 
Pelersbiiru nn.l City I'oliiL milije.t of rourn.1 1.1 c.r.lom fp.m tiin cimtii»nclcr of Iho Army of tlto 
Potonmc. Tho Ninth Army Corps will tu- left Intjict, to li..!,l the prownt lino •''«'"»'» »<> long »» 
the wliolo lino now ooout.lo.l l.v »* Is lifl.l. If, li..wovr. llio tr.io(><i t.> tho loft of llio Ninth ( ori.!. 
aro wlth.lrawn, th.-n the Irft of th.- corm niny l.« thrown tn.k »<> »» t" oocuny the podlllon hold l.y 
tho annv lirlortoth.-ciii.tiin-..rtho \V.-I.|..n ro«,|. All tro..|«i to the loft of tl.o Ninth Oorp* will 
be hel.l I'n reiidlncss to move Kt tho shorU-st notice by such route u m»y ho .lo«l({n»t»-<l when Ibo 
order Is (;lven. . , ^. \. 

" General Or.l will rloUch throo <llvl^llon^ two white ana ono colorwl, or ».» much of Ihcm M he 
can anil hold his i.re».>nt lines, and march for the present left of tho Armv of the Totomac In 
tho ab».'nr« of further orderN or until further orders are k'iv.n, tho whlUi divisions will follow tbo 
left column of the Annv of the Potomac, and tho color.d .llvlslon llio rl(jht column. Durtnif tho 
movement Miyor-Oeneral W«iUol will b« left In command i^f all the forces rcmalnlnst U.hlnd from 
Iho Armv of tho James. u . u. ».». 

"The movement of troops fhiin tho Army of tho .lanio.s will commonco on tho night of the 
27tb Instant, Oenernl Or.l will leave behind tho nilnlnium nninbor of cavalry ncccsaary for picket- 
duty, in the al..Ht:nco of the main army. A cavalry ex|)edltl.>n, from Uenoral Ord'a command, whl 
also be started from Sutfolk, to leave there on Saturday, the Ist of April, under Colonel .'<umncr, 
for the purpose of cuttlMR the railroad about liick.-ford. This, If accomplished, will have to be a 
Burprisc, and therefore fron\ three to t\vo hundred men will be sulllolent They should, however, 
bo supported by all tho Infantry that can be snaretl from Norfolk ami Portsmouth, as far out as to 
where tho cavalry cr.vs,-.es the Blaokwiiter. Tho crossing should probably bo at I nlten. !<hould 
Colonel Sumner succeed in reachlnR the Weldon road, he will be InstrucU-"! to do all the damage 
possible to thetrUntfle of roads between Hleksford, Weldon, and Gaston. The rallroa.l-t.rldge at 
Weldon beInK tltted up for the passaco of carriages It ml;.'ht be practicable to destroy any accu- 
mulation of .supplies tho enemy may have collectoil south of tho koanoka All tho tr.M.ps will 
move with four days' rations in haversacks and eight days' In waa.ins. To avoid as much hauling 
as pt>sslblo, and to ^'lve the Army of the .lames the same number of days' supply with tho Army of 
tho Potomac. General Ord will direct his commissary and .luiirtermaster Ui have sulBclent supplii-s 
delivered at the terminus of the roa.1 to fill up in pa.'ving. r^ixty rounds of ammunition per man will 
betaken In wacons, and as much Rrain as the transportation on hand will carry, after taking the 
specifled amount of other supplies. Tho densely woo.le<l country In which the army has to ope- 
rate making the use of much artillery Impracticable, the amount Uken with tho army will bo re- 
daced to six or eight guns to each division, at the option of the army commanders. 

" All necessary pr«parations for carrying the.se directions into op<ralion maybe commenced at 
once. The re.»»'rves of the Ninth Cor[>s should be massed a.s much as poesible. Whilst 1 would 
Dot now order an uncomlitional attack on tho enemy's line by them, they shonld be rea-ly, and 
should make the attack If the enemy weakens his line in their front, without waiting for orders. 
In case thuy carry tho line, then the whole of the Ninth C..ri«» could follow up so as to join or 
co-operaU- with the balanee of the army. To prepare for this, the Ninth Corps will have rations 
Issued to them, same as the balance of tho army. General Weitzel will keep vigilant watch U[k)U 
his front, anil if found at all pr.iclicable to break through at any point, he will .lo so. A succesa 
north of the .lame.s should bo followed up with great proiniitness. An attack will not be feasible 
nnless it i> found that the enemy has detached largely. In that caso It may be regarded as evi- 
dent that the enemy are relying upon their local reserves principally for tho defence of KIchmond. 
Preparations may be made for abandoning all the lino north of tho Jame.s, except inclosed works 
—only to b»- ab.indoiied, however, after a break Is made in the lines of the enemy. 

•' By these instructions a large part of the armies operating against KIchmond Is left behind. 
The enemy, knowing this, may, as an only chance, strip their lines to the merest skeleton, in the 
hope of advantage not being taken of it, whil.st they hurl ev.ry thing against the moving column, 
and return. It cannot be Impressed too strongly upon coinman<ler»of troops left In the trenches 
not to allow this to occur without taking advantage of it. Tho very fact of tho enemy c.MiiIng out 
to attack. If he does so, might bo regarde<l as almost conclusive evidence of such a weakening of 
his lines. I would have It [lartlcularly enjoined upon cortis. commanders that, in case of an atL'U-k 
from the enemy, those not altacke<l are not to wait for orders from tho commamling oilier of the 

army to which they belong, but that they will move prompily, and notify tl ir ..f their 

action. I would al.vi enjoin the same action on the part of division coini ..ther 

parts of their corjis are engaged. In like manner, I would urge the iin|Mirlai _• up a 

repulse of tho enemy. I'. S. Grant, Ll^ . ..v.. -...;. ...cral. 

" Majob-Gbmuials Mbadb, Ord, and SauuDAN." 

Early on the mornine of the 25th tho ei 'iJ our linea in t"r 

Ninth Cori>» (whic)i liebl from tho Appoina'' ..varJ.s "urleft', 

Fort Steailiiiiiii, and a part of tho lino to tho r _ ' of it, cstabli.she i 

and turned the jjuiis of tho fort a^jaiimt us ; but uur troops on either flank held their 
ground until tho roservo.-* were brought up, when tho enemy was driven back with a 
heavy lo^s in killei an. I wounded, and one thousand nine hundred pri.soners. Ourlos.H 
was .lixtv-ei^rht kilK.l, three hundred and tliirty-scv.'ii wnundcd, and Ave hundred aiid 
six niis.Hii.g. (Jeiienil Meado at once ordered Ih" < '.'nor corps to advance and feel tho 
enemy in their respective fronts. Pushing forwarl, tliey captured and held the enemy's 
slronifly intrenohe.i {>icket-line in front of the Seo..nd and Sixth cor(>!«, and eight 
hundred and thirty-tour prisoncn*. Tho enemy made dehperulc attenipt.H to rrtako 
this line, but without «uocess. Our loss in front of these was fltly-lwo kilted, eight 
hundred and sixty four wounded, and two hundred and seven tuiaaiog. Thoonouiy'a 
loss in killed and wounded was far greater. 



506 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

General Sherman bavin? got his troops ii!! '[nietly in camp about Goldsboro', and 
his prepanitiouB for farnisning 6uppliu> t i them perfected, visited me at City Point on 
the 27tli of March, and stated that he wo;iM 1'.^ ready to move, as he had previously 
written me, by the 10th of April, fully equipped and rationed for twenty days, if it 
should become necessary to bring his command to bear against Lee's army, in co-oper- 
ation with our forces in front of Richmond and Petersburg. General Shemian proposed 
in this movement to threaten Kaleigh, and then, by turning suddenly to the right, reach 
the Koanoke at Gaston or thereabouts, whence he could move on to the Richmond 
and Danville Railroad, striking it in the vicinity of Burkesville, or join the armies op- 
erating against Richmond, as might be deemed best. This plan he wa.s directed to 
carry into execution, if he received no further directions in the mean tmie. I explained 
U) him the movement I had ordered to commence on the 29th of March. That if it 
sliould not prove as entirely successful as I hoped, I would cut the cavalry loose to 
destroy the Danville and Southside railroads, and thus deprive the enemy of fur- 
ther supplies, and also prevent the rapid concentration ot Lee's and Johnston's 
armies. 

I had spent days of an.xiety lest each morning should bring the report that the 
enemy had retreated the night before. I was tirinly convinced that Sherman's cross- 
ing the Roanoke would be the signal for Lee to leave. With Johnston and him com- 
bined, a long, tedious, and e.vpensive campaign, consuming most of tlie summer, 
might become necessary. By moving out I would put the army in better condition 
for pursuit, and would at least, by the destruction of the Danville road, retard the 
concentration of the two armies of Lee and Johnston, and cause the enemy to aban- 
don much material that he might otherwise save. I therefore determined not to 
delay the movement ordered. 

On the night of the 27th, Major-General Ord, with two divisions of the Twenty- 
fourtli Corps, Major-General Gibbon commanding, and one division of the Twenty- 
fifth Corp.s, Brigadier-General Birney commanding, and McKenzie's cavalry, took up 
his line of march in pursuance of the foregoin? instructions, and reached the position 
assigned him near Hatcher's Run on the morninar of the 2yth. On the 28th the fol- 
lowing instructions were given to General Sheridan : 

"Cmr Point, Va., March 28, 1S65. 

"Obneral— The Fifth Army Corps will move by the Vaughn road at three a. m. to-morrow 
moruint;. The Second moves at about nine a. m., having but about three miles to march to reach 
the point (lesi).'nated for it to take on the right of the Fifth Corps, after the latter reaching Din- 
widdle Courthouse. Move your cavalry at as early an hour as you c»n, and without being confined 
to any imrtieuUr road or roads. You may go out by ihe nearest roads in rear of the Fifth Corps, 
pass by its left, and, passing near to or through Dinwiildie, reach the right and rear of the enemy 
as soon as you can. It is not tho intention to attack the enemy in his intrenched position, but to 
force him out, U" possible. Should he come out and attack us, or get himself whore lie can be at- 
tacked, move in with your entire force in your own wav, ami with the full reliance that tho army 
will engage or follow, as circumsUnces will dictate. I shall bo on tlio Held, and will probably bo 
able U> communicate with you. Should I not .lo so, an.l you tind that tho eneinv keeps within 
bis main Intrenched line, you may cut loose and push for the Danville road. If vi'U find It prac- 
ticable, I Would like you to cross the Southslde road, between I'etersburs; and Uurkesville, and 
destroy It to some extent I would not advise much iletontion, however, until you reach the Dan- 
ville roa.l. which I would like you to strike as near to the Appomattox as possible. Make your 
destructi.in on that road as complete as possible. You can then pass on to the Souihside road, 
west of Burkesville, and destroy that In like manner. 

"After having accomplished the destruction of the two railroads, which are now the only ave- 
nues of supply to Lee's army, you may return U) this army, selectins vour road further south, or 
you may go on into North Carolina and join General Sherman. Should you select the latter 
course, got the information to me as early as possible, so that I may send orders to meet vou at 
Goldsbor..'. U. s. Grant, Lieutenant-GeneraL 

" Majub-Qe.veral p. H. Suebidan." 

On the morning of the 29th the movement commenced. At night the cavaiary was 
at Dinwiddle Courthouse, and tho left of our infantry line o.vteiided to tho Quaker 
road, near its intersection willi the Boydlon plaukroaj. Tho position of tho troops, 
from left 10 right, was as follows: Sheridan, Warren, Humphreys, Ord, Wright, 
I'arkc. 

Kvury thing looked favorable to tho defeat of the enemy and the capture of Peters- 
burg and Richmond, if the proper etlbrt was made. I therefore addressed the follow- 
ing comiiiuniealion to General Sheridan, having previously informed him verbally not 
to cut loose for the raid contemplated in his orders until "ho received notice from me 
to do so : 

"ORAVBLLy Creek, March 29, 1S65. 

"OENKRAiy— Our line is now unbroken from the Apixunaltox to Dinwiddle. We are all ready, 
however, lo give up all, from the Jerusalem plankroad to Hatcher's Kun, whenever the roroe> 
oan bu used advuntagoously. After gelling Into line south of Hatcher's, we pushed forward to find 



APPENDIX. 507 

the enemy's position. Ocnor»l OrllTln wns iittacked naar where the Qn«kpr rovl Intenwy-ts tbo 
Burdtun roiul, but ropulM><l It easily, caiPtiirliiK abinit one hun<lre<l men. Humphreys re«chc<l 
Dtnney's mill, nml was puslilne on when last hi'anl from. 

" I now feel like endInK the matter. If It Is powlble to <lo so, before giAng back. I ilo not want 
you, therefore, to cut loose and ro after the enemy's roa.1s at i.res<-nt In the morning poah 
•round the enemy. It you can, and get on to his right rear. The movements of the enemy's 
cavalry may, of course, modify your action. We will art all together as one army here, until It Is 
eecn what can be done with the enemy. The slgnal-olllcer at Cobb's lllil report. •.!, at half-f<*.«t 
eleven a. m., that a cavalry column had paased that [lolnt from Itlchmond tnward^ Petersburg, 
taking forty minutee Ut pa-ss. U. 8. Orant, LleuU-naut-Oenerai. 

"Ma,;or-Oikekal V. H. SniiUDAit." 

From the lughi of the 29th to the inorninff of tho Z\nt tho rain fell in auch torrents 
u-s to tniiko it iinpOM.Hible to move n wlieulfil vehicle, cvcept n« coriliiroy rciai]« were 
hiiil in front of them. Diirini? tlio 80th, Sheridiin !nlvniioe<l fratn I'iMwicl.lio Coiirt- 
houBe townrilK Five Forks, wlioro he fotind tho enemy in force. Goncriil Warren ad- 
vanced and e.xtcmled hi.s line acros.s the Boydton plankroad to near tho Whito Oak 
road, with a view of (jettintj across tho latter; but, tindin^; the enemy Rtronjf in his 
front and o.\tcndin)j boyontl his left, wsts ilirected to hold on where ho was and for- 
tify. General Huinphreys drove tho enemy from his front into his main line on the 
Hatcher, near Hiinrcss's mills. Genemls Ord, Wriirht, and I'nrke made exntninatinns 
in their front.'* to determine the feasibility of an assault on tho enemy's linc«. The 
two latter reported favorably. The enemy confrontinif us, oa he did, at every point 
from Kiehmond to our extreme loft, I conceived his lines must be wenkly held, and 
could bo penetrated if my estimate of his forces was correct. I determined, tnero- 
foro, to extond my line no further, but to re-en force General Sheridan with a corps 
of infantry, aiiil thus enable him to cut loose and turn the enemy's ri;,'ht flank, and 
with the other corps assault the enemy's linos. The result of the otfensivo ctfort of 
the enemy the week before, when he a.ssaultod Fort Stendman, particularly favored 
this. The enemy's intrenched picket-lino captured by us at that time threw the line* 
occupied by tho belligerents so close together at some points that it was but a mo- 
ment's run from one to the other. Preparations were at onco made to relieve (ieneral 
Humphreys' corns, to report to Gonera> Sheridan; but the con liti"n of the roads 
prevented imttieJiato movement. On the morning of the 31ri, General Warren re- 
ported favorably to petting possc<»aion of the White Oak road, and was directed to do 
80. To accomplish this, ho moved with one division, instead of his whole corps, 
which was attacked by the enemy in superior force and driven back on the second 
division before it had time to tonn, and it, in turn, forced back upon the third 
division, when the enemy was checkoil. A division of tlie Second Corps was imme- 
diatelj' sent to his support, the enemy driven back with heavy loss, and possession of 
the White Oak road ir'dned. Sheridan advanced, and with a portion ot his cavalry 
got posse.ssion of the Five Forks; but the enemy, after the affair with the Fifth Corps, 
re-enforced the rebel cavalry, defending that point with infantry, and forced him back 
towards Dinwiddle Courtlxnise. Here General Sheridan displayed great generalship. 
Instead of retreating with his whole command on the main anny, to tell the story of 
BUjjerior forces encountered, ho deployed his cavalry on foot, leaving only moaiited 
men enough to take charge of tho iiorses. This compelled.the enemy to deploy over 
a vast extent of woods and broken country, and mude his progress slow. At this 
juncture lie dispatched to me what had taken place, and that he was dropping back 
slowly- on Dinwiddle Courthouse. General McKenzie's cavalry and one aivision of 
the Hflli Corps were immediatelv ordered to his a.ssistance. S'o<>ii after, receiving a 
report from General Meade that Humphreys could hold our position on the Boydton 
road, and tliat the oilier two divisions of the Fit\h Corps could go to Sheridan^ they 
were so ordered at once. Thus tho operations of the day necessitated the sending of 
Warren, because of his accessibility, insteail of Humphreys, as was intended, and 
precipitated intended movements*. On tho moniing of the 1st of April, General 
Sheridan, re-enforced by (ieneral Warren, drove the enemy back on Five Forks, 
where, lute in tho evening, he a.s.saulted and carried his strongly fortified position, 
capturing; all his artillery aeid l)etween live and six thousand prisoners. 

About the close of this battle, brevet Major-General Chnrh-s Gr-t!'-; relieved Major- 
Gcneral Warren in command of the Fifth Corps. Tho rei - ached me alter 

nightfall. Some apprehensioim filled my mind lest the c desert hi.s lines 

durinff the night, and by falling upon General Shoridan !■ ' .'lee could reach 

him, drive hini from his position and open the way for rein-ai. To iruard against 
this, General Miles' division of Humphreys' corps was sent to rc-enforc« him, and a 
bombardment was comnieneod and kept up until four o'clock in the ■ ■ 'April 

2), when an assault was ordered on the enemy's lines. General WrikT- i the 

lines with hi.s whole corps, sweeping every thing before him, and to v arils 

Hatcher's Kun, capturing many guns aiid several thousand prisoners. He was 



503 GRANT AND fflS CAifPAlGNS. 

closely followed by two divisions of General Ord's command, until he met the other 
division of General Ord's that had succeeded in forcing: the enemy's lines near Hatch- 
er's Euu. Generals Wright and Ord immediately swung to the rigrht, and closed all 
of the enemv on that side of them in Petersburg, while General Humphreys pushed 
forward witt two divisions and joined General Wright on the left. General Parke 
succeeded in carrying the enemy's main line, capturing guns and prisoners, but was 
unable to carry his inner line. General Sheridan, being advised of the condition of 
affairs, returned General Milea to his proper command. On reaching the enemy's 
lines immediately surrounding Petersburg, a portion of General Gibbon's corps, by a 
most gallant charge, captured two strong inclosed works — the most salient and com- 
manding south of Petersburg — thus materially shortening the line of investment 
necessary for taking in the city. The enemy south of Hatcher's Run retreated west- 
ward to Sutherland's Station, where they were overtaken by Miles' division. A 
severe engagement ensued, and lasted until both his right and let flanks were threat- 
ened by the approach of General Sheridan, who was moving from Ford's Station 
towards Petersburg, and a division sent by General Meade from the front of Peters- 
burg, when he broke in the utmost confusion, leaving in our hands his guns and 
many prisoners. This force retreated by the main road along the Appomattox River. 
During the night of the 2d the enemy evacuated Petersburg and Richmond, and re- 
treated towards Danville. On the morning of the 3d pursuit was commenced. Gen- 
eral Sheridan pushed for the Danville road, keeping near the Appomattox, followed 
by General Meade with the Second and Sixth corps, while General Ord moved for 
Burkesville along the Southside road ; the Ninth Corps stretched along that road 
behind him. On the 4th, General Sheridan struck the Danville road near Jetters- 
ville, where he learned that Lee was at Amelia Courthouse. He immediately in- 
trenched himself and awaited the arrival of General Meade, who reached there the 
next day. General Ord reached Burkesville on the evening of the 5th. 

On the morning of the 5th, I addressed Major-Gcneral Sherman the following com- 
munication : 

"Wiisofi's Station, April 5, 1865. 

"General — All indications now are that Lee will attempt to reach Danville with the remnant 
of his force. Sheridan, who was np with him last ni^ht, reports all that is left, horse, foot, and 
dragoons, at twenty thousand, much demoralized. We liope to reduce this number one-halC I 
shall push on to Burkesville, and. if a stand is made at Danville, will in a very few days go there. 
If you can possibly do so, push on from where you are, and let us see if we cannot finish the job 
with Lee's and .Tohnstorrs armies. Whether tt will be better for you to strike for Greensboro', or 
nearer to Danville, you will be better able to judge when you receive this. Rebel armies now are 
the only strategic points to strike at. U. 8. Gba>t, Lieutenant-General. 

" Majob-General W. T. Suekman." 

On the morning of the 6th, it was found that General Lee was moving west of Jet 
tersville, towards Danville. General Sheridan moved with his cavalry (the Fifth Corps 
having been returned to General Meade on his reaching Jettersville) to strike his 
flank, followed by the Sixth Corps, while the Second and Fifth corps pressed hard 
after, forcing him to abandon several hundred wagons and several pieces of artillery. 
General Ord advanced from Burkesville towards Farmville, sending two regiments of 
infantrv and a squadron of cavalry, under brevet Brigadier-General Theodore Read, 
to reach and destroy the bridges. This advance met tlie head of Lee's column near 
Farmville, which it heroically attacked and detained until General Read was killed 
and his small force overpowered. This caused a delay in the enemy's movements, 
and enabled General Ord to get well up with the remainder of his force, on meeting 
which, the enemy immediately intrenched himself In the afternoon, General Sheri- 
dan struck the enemy south of Sailors' Creek, captured sixteen pieces of artillery and 
about four hundred wagons, and detained him until the Sixth Corps got up, wlien a 
general attack of infantry and caviJry was made, which resulted in the capture of six 
or seven thousand prisoners, amongwhom were many general officers. The move- 
ments of the Second Corps and General Ord's command contributed greatly to the 
day's success. 

On the morning of the 7th, the pursuit was renewed, the cavalry, except one 
division, and the Fifth Corps moving by Prince Edward's Courthouse ; the Sixth 
Corps, General Ord's command, and one division of cavalry, on Farmville; and the 
Second Corps by the High Bridge road. It was soon found that the enemy hud 
crossed to the north side of the Appomattox ; but so close was the pursuit, that the 
Second Corps got possession of the common bridge at High Bridge before the enemy 
could destroy it, and immediately crossed over. The SixUi Corps and a division of 
cavalry crossed at Farmville to its support. 

Feelinir now that Generid Lee's chance of escape was utterly hopeless, I addressed 
him the following communication from Farmville : 



APPENDIX. 509 

"April 7. 1S6S. 
" Qkskrai. — The Tf»n\t of the last wock mast oon vlnrx yoa of the honclwidnf*!! of fiirlh«-r rosUt- 
«nco on lln< piirt of tlio »riny of Northern Vireinift In thU ittrncelo. I r.'nl that It l< «•>, snil ri>eiir<l 
It »* my iltity to nhlfl from mynolf the rf.'nonslblllty of any furlhor offu^lon of M.mkI. by ■.•king of 
you the Burrender of that portion of Iho Confederate States army known an the Army of Northern 
Virginia. 0. S. Obant, Llrutiinant-Oenoral. 

"OCNKRAL B. E. L««." 

Early on the morning of tho 8th, before leaving, I rccoivcJ at Fannvillo the fol- 
lowing : 

"April 7, IS®. 
"0«m:ral — I have received yonr note of this dat>. Thonifh not entertaining the opinion yoa 
express on tlio hopolcMnoM of furthor resistance on tho iiart of tlo- Army of Nortlo-rn Virginia. I 
reciprocate your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and therefore, before considering your 
proposition, ask the terms you nrlll oflTcr on oonditloD of ita sarrondor. 
, " B. E. Lie, Q«nenL 

"LiRiJTKNAjrr-OfNKRAi U. 8. QRAjrr." 

To this I immediatefy replied : 

"April <<, 18<SB. 
"Oeserai, — Tour not« of last evenlni;. In reply to mine of same date, asking tho condition on 
which I will accept the surrender of the Army of Northern Vlrglnln, Is Just recived. In reply, I 
would sav, that /)f<ice being my great deslro. there Is but one condition I would ln»lst upon — 
namoly, That the men and officers surremlerod shall bo disf|uall(lod for taking up arms again a^ralnst 
the Government of tho United Slates until properly exchanged. I will meet you, or will desig- 
nate otllcers to meet any olllcers you may name for the same purjmv, at any point ai.Tee8ble to 
Sou, for the pnrpcxse of arranging definitely tho terms upon which the surremler of the Army of 
forlhern Virginia will be received. U. S. ORA>fr. Lioutenant-General. 

"Gkj<rrax K. E. Lkr." 

Early on the morning of the 8th the pnrsnit was rcsnmed. General Meade followed 
north of the Appomattox, and General Sheridan, with all tho caviilrv, piL^hed straight 
for Appomattox Station, followed by General Ord'a command and the Fifth Corps. 
Dnrinif the day General Moado's advance had considerable flffhtimr with the enemy's 
rear-giiard, hut wa.-* unable to brinif on a eeneral engiiuement. Late in the evening 
General Sheridan struck the railroad at .\ppomatto.\ Station, drove the enemy from 
there, and captured twcnty-flve pieces of artillery, a hospital-train, and four trains of 
cars loaded with sur>plie;< for Lee'.H army. Durintr tliis day I accompanied General 
Meade's column, and about midnight received the following communication from Gen- 
eral Lee: 

" April 8. 18(a 

" Oexsral — I received, at a late hour, yonr note of to-dav. In mine of yesterday I did not In- 
tend to propose the .surrender of the .\rmy of Northern V'Irginia, but to a.«k the terms of your 
proposition. To be frank, I do not think the emergency has arisen to call for the surrenderor' this 
army : but as the restoration of peace should be the solo object of all, I desire to know whether 
your prop.isals would lead to that end. I cannot, therefore, meet you with a view to surrender the 
Army of Northern Virginia; but as far as your proposal may affect the Confedi-rate State* forces 
under my command, and tend to tho restoration of peace. I should be ple&sed to meet yoa at 
10 A.M. to-morrow on tho old stage-road to Klcbmond, between tho picket-llnee of the two 
•nnles. K. E. Lrb, General. 

" LlRrrO-A-VT-GKCKBAL U. 8. OBA^fT." 

Early on the morning of the 9th I returned him an answer as follows, and imme- 
diately started to join the colnmn south of the Appomatto.x : 

"Aprils, 1^«. 
" OtyERAL— Tour not* of yesterday Is received. I have no anthorlty to treat on tho subject of 
peace ; the meeting propo«,>.l for a. m. t>>-<lay could leail to no go-nl. I will sLit.-. however, general, 
that I am equally anxious for pt>ace with y.iurs.'U and the whole North vnt.TUiii< tlio same feel- 
ing. The terms' upon which p.-ace can be ha^l are well undenitoo<l. Ily the ."iiuth l.sying down 
their arms th.-y will hasten that most <lesira)>le event, save thousands of human liv.-s. anci hun- 
dreds of millions of property not yet de«troyi>d. Seriously hoping that all our (lil!lcullle« may bo 
settled wltliout the loss of another life, I sabscrlbo myself, eta, 

"U. 8. GaA-XT, Lleatenant-OenerBL 
'General B. E. Lee.' 

On the morning of the 9th, General Ord's command and the Fif^h Corps reached 
Appomattox Station just as the enemy wilh making a dc.sjH>rato etfirtto hronk through 
our cavalry. The infantry wb.<« at once thrown in. .Sonn after a white fl.\if was 
received, requesting a suspension of hostilities pending iieir"tintions for a surrender. 

Before reaching General Sheridan's headquarters, I received the following from 
General Lee : 



510 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

" Apbil 9. 1365. 

"GE.HEEAt— I received your noU3 of this morning on the plcket-Uno, wblther I had come to 
meet yu, and ascoriain definitely what terms were embraced in yoar proposal of yesterday with 
reference to the surrender of this army. I now ask an interview, In accordance with the offer con- 
tained in your letter of yesterday, for that purpose. B. E. Lez, GeneraL 

"Limctenakt-Gk.seral U. S. Geant." 

The ifiterview was held at Appomattox Courthouse, the result of which is set forth 
in the following correspondence : 

" Appomattox Coubthoitse, Virginia, April 9, 1S65. 

" GcKiBAL,— In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the Sth instant. I pro- 
pose to receive the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia on the following terras, to wit: 
Bolls of the officers and men to be made in duplicate, one copy to be flven to an officer to be 
designated by me, the other to bo retained by such officer or officers as you may desi;:nate. The 
officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms against the Government of the 
United States until properly exchanged ; ami each comnnny or regimental commander sign a like 
parole for the men of their commands. The arms, artillery, and public property to be packed and 
Blacked, and turned over to the officers appointed by me to receive them. This' will not embrace 
the side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or ba2i,'a2e. This done, each offli-er and man 
will be allowed to return to their hoinas, not to be disturbed by United States authority so long as 
they observe their paroles and the laws in force where they may reside. 

'" U. 8. Gbant, Lieutcnant-GeneraL 

" Oknebal B. R Lee." 

" IIbadquaetees Aemt of Nobthern Virginia, April 9, 1S65. 
" Gejtebal — I received your letter of this date containing the terms of the surrender of the 
Army of Northern Virginia as proposed by you. As they are substantially the same as those e.x- 
presscd in your letter of the Sth instant, they are accepted. I will proceed to desisnate the 
proper officers to carry the stipulations into effect. E. E. Lee, General. 

" Liedtenajjt-General U. 8. Gbant." 

The command of Major-General Gibbon, the Fifth Army Corps under Griffin, and 
McKenzie's cavalry, were de.sioriiated to remain at Appomattox Courtliouse until the 
paroling of the surrendered army was completed, and to take chartrc- of the public 
property. The remainder of the army immediately returned to the vicinity of Burkes- 
ville. 

General Lee's great influence throughout the whole South caused his example to be 
followed, and to-day the result is that the armies lately under his leadership are at 
their homes, desiring peace and quiet, and their arms are in the hands of our ord- 
nance officers. 

I On the receipt of my letter of the Sth, General Sherman moved directly against Gen- 
eral John.ston, who retreated rapidly on and through Kuleigh, which place General 
Sherman occupied on the morning of the 13th. The day precedmg, news of the sur- 
render of General Lee reached him at Smitiifield. 

On the 14th a correspondence was opened between General Sherman and General 
Johnston, which resulted on the ISth in an agreement for the suspension of hostili- 
ties, and a inemoratiduiu or basis for peace, subject to the approval of tiie President. 
This agreetiient was disapproved by the President on the 21st, which disapproval, 
together with your instructions, was communicated to General Sherman by me in 
person on the morning of the 24th. at Kaleigh, North Carolina, in obedience"tii your 
orders. Notice was atonce given by him to General Johnston for the termination of 
the truce tliat had been entered into. On the 2r)th anotlier meeting between them 
was agreed upon, to take place on the 26th, which terminated in the surrender and 
disbandinent of Johnston's army upon substantially the same terms as were given to 
General Lee. 

The exjtedition under General Stoneman from Ea-*t Tennessee got off on the 20th 
of March, moving by way of Boone, North Carolina, and struck the railroad at 
. Wytheyille, ('hainhersburg, and Big Lick. Tiio force striking it at Bi? Lick pushed on 
to within a few miles of Lynchburg, destroying the important bridLres, while with 
the main force he ctfeetunlly destroyed it between New Kiver and Big Lick, and then 
turned for Greensboro' on the North Carolina Railroad ; struck tluit roiid and de- 
Btroycd the bridges between Danville and Greensboro', and between Vireensboro' and 
the Yadkin, together with the depots of supplies along it, and captured four hundred 
prisoners.^ At Salisbury ho attacked ana defe.-itoil a force of the enemy under 
General (Jardiner, capturing fourteen pieces of artillery and one thousand three hun- 
dred and sixtv-foiir prisoners, and destroyed larije amounts of army stores. At this placa 
ho destroyed fifteen miles of railroad and the bridges towards Charlotte. Thence be 
moved to Slatorsvillc. 



APPENDIX. 511 

General Canby. who hnd t>con ilirootcl in Jonnary to nrmko proparntiona for a 
movt-nu-rit frotn MoMlo Buy iiciiinsl Moliile ami the interior of Aliilxiniii, comnioiiced 
his inovoiuenl on tlio 2iilli "I' Miirch. The Sixtoonth Corpn, Mnjnr-Cti'iiornl A. J. 
Smith coiuinnndinif, inovo<l tVoin Fort (taincs by wator to Fi«h Kivor ; tho Thirttonth 
Corps, under Miyor-Cfencrul (ionlon (irnniyer, moved from Fort Morffan and joined 
the Sixtcetitli Corps on Fish Kivor, both movinf? thence on Hpaninli Fort anil inveat- 
ing it on tlio 2Vth ; while Mnjor-CJouernl 8tt'clo'« command moved from I'cnsaoolA, 
cut the railroftd Icadini; from Tfiisiw to Motit^fomory, etToctcd a junction with them, 
and partially invested Fort Blakcly. After a severe bombardment ot Spanish Fort, a 
part of its lino was curried on the Sth of Anril. During? the nijjht the enemy evac- 
uated the fort. Fort Blakely was carried by a.'wault on tho 9th, and many prisoner5 
captured ; our loss was considerable. These huoccssch practically openeil to aa tho 
Alabama River, and emibled us to approach Mobile from tho nortu. On the ni)fht of 
tlie 11th the city wivs evacuated, and was taken po.sacssion of by our forces on tho 
morning of tho 12th. 

Tho expedition under command of Brevet Major-Goncral Wilson, consislinflf of 
twelve thousand five hundred mounted men, was delayed by rains tmlil .Mareh 22d, 
when it moved from Chickasaw, Alabama. On the 1st of April, General Wiisim en- 
countered the enemy in force under Forrest near Ebcnczcr Church, drove him in con- 
fusion, captured three hundred prisoners and three (^uns, and destroyed the central 
bridge over the Cahawba River. On the 2d he attacked and captured tho fonified city 
of Selma, defended by Forrest with seven thousand men and thirty-two guns, de- 
stroyed the arsenal, armory, naval foundry, machine-shops, vast quiintities of stores, 
and captured three thousand prisoners. On tho 4th he captured ami destroyed Tus- 
caloosa. On the 10th he crossed tho Alabama River, and after acndiiiK information of 
his operations to General Canby, marched on Montgomery, which place he occupied 
on the 14lh, the enemy having abandoned it. At this place many stores and flvo 
8toamboat.s fell into our hands. Thence a force marched direct on Columbus, and 
another on ^Ve^t Point, both of which jilaces were assaulted and captured on the 16th. 
At the former filaoe we got i>ne thousnna five hundred prisoners and nrty-two field-guns, 
destroyed two gunboats, the navy y-ard, foundries, arsenal, many factories, and mach 
other public property. At tho latter place we got three hundred prisoners, four guns, 
and destroyed nineteen locomotives and three hundred cars. On the 20th ho took 
possession of Macon, Georgia, with sixty fleld-guu'*, one thousand two hundred 
militia, and five generals, surrendered by General Howell Cobb. General Wilson, 
hearing tlial Jetf. Davis was trying to make his escape, sent forces in pursuit and suc- 
ceeded in capturing him on the moming of May lltli. 

On the 4th day of May, General Dick Taylor surrendered to Gonoral Canby all the 
remaining rebel forces east of the Mississippi. 

A force sufficient to insure an easy triumph over tho enemy under Kirby Smith, 
west of the Mississippi, was immediately put in motion for To.va-r, and Major (leneral 
Sheridan designated tor its immediate command; but on tho 2'>th day of May, and 
before they reached their destination, General Kirbv Smith surrendered his entire 
oomraand to Major-General Canby. This surrender ilid not take place, howov.r, until 
after the capture of the rebel President and Vice-President ; and tho bad faith was 
exliibited of first disbanding most of his army and permitting an indiscriminate 
plunder of public property. 

Owing to the report that many of those lately in arms against tho Government had 
taken refuge upon tho soil of .NIexico, carrying with them arms rightfully belotiging to 
the United States, which had been surrendered to us by agreement — amonk.' them 
some of tho leaders who had surrendered in peraoix — and tho ilisiurbcd condition of 
alfairs on tho Rio Grande, the orders for troops to proceed to Texas were not clumged. 

There have been severe combats, raids, expeditions, and movements to dei'eut tho 
designs and purposes of the enemy, most of them reflecting great credit on oar 
arms, and which contributed greatly to our final triumph, that I have not mentioned. 
Many of these will be found clearly set forth in the reports herewith submitlol ; some 
in the telegrams and brief dis[>atchos announcing them, and others, I regret to say, 
have not a.-^ yet been otBcially reported. 

For information touching ourilndian difficulties, I would respectfully refer to the 
reports of the commanders of departments in which they have occurred. 

It has been my fortune to see the armies of both ttie West and tho East flght 
battles, and from what I have seen I know there is no ditTeronco in their flghung 
qualities. All that it was possible for men to do in battle they have done. The 
Western armies commenced their battles in the Mississippi Valley, and recvivcd the 
final surrender of tiio remnant of tiie principal army op{>o»ed to them in N>rtii Carv>- 
lina. The armies of the EiLit commonoed their battles on tho river from wiucli the 
Army of the Potomac derived in name, and received the final surrender of their old 



512 GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGNS. 

antagonist at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia. The splendid achievements of each 
have nationalized our victories, removed all sectional jealousies (of which we have 
unfortunately experienced tpo nuich), and the cause of crimination and recrimination 
that mi^ht have followed had eithur section failed in its duty. All have a proud rec- 
ord, and all sections can well ciiii;;ruUilate themselves and each other for having done 
their full share in restoring the sujiremacy of law over every foot of territorj- belong- 
ing to the United States. L2t them hope for perpetual peace and harmony with that 
enemy, whose manhood, however mistaken the cause, drew forth such herculean 
deeda of valor. 

I have the honor to be. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General. 
Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War. 

Adjdtamt-Genkbal's Office, November 18, 1865. 
[OfiBcial copy]. E. D. Townsend, 

Assistant Adjutant-General. 



INDEX. 



PAOB 

Aleop's Farm, linttlc of. lUtJ 

Arkansas, ilcstnirtion of the ram. 300 

Arkimsas l?ost, nttuck on 110 

Atlunta, battli-s of 402 

AiKlonrietl, Brevet Major J. C, 

sketch of 471 

Averill. General W. W., move- 
ments in Western Vir^nia. . . . 323 
Averysboro', battle of 420 

Bal>cock, Brevet Colonel O. E., 

sketch of 4G0 

Bacleau, Brevet C\»loDel Adam, 

sketch of 402 

Baker's Creek, battle of 172 

Banks, Major General N. F 

corresiondenco with Gard- 
ner 1!»0, 1J)7, lt»8 

instructions 272 

Barnard, Brevet Major-Oeneral J. 

O., sketch of 470 

Baton Rouge, battle of 120 

Beauregard, General P. G. T., C. 

S. A 

his charactf^r 90 

assumes tlie offensive 83 

comjiobition of his force. 8-1, 104 

plans bo 

defeated at Pittaburg Land- 
ing 94 

rorrespondence with Grant. . 95 

lossis 90 

prorlamaiion 103 

evacuates ("orinth 105 

taktw jHisition at Tuixlo. ... Ill 

retires fmni active service. . 110 

attacks Butler 327 

Belmont, Mi.-'souri. engagement at 32 

Bentonvillf. battl.- of. 420 

Bermutla Hundred, dtsrrijition of. 325 
Big Barren, deticription of the. ... 87 
Big Black, battle of the 175 



P«OB 

Big Blue, fight on the 400 

Bowers, Brevet Colonel T. S., 

sketdi of 459 

Hoydton i)lankroa(l, fight on the.. 396 
Bragg, (leneral Braxton, C. S. A. 

his character 281 

military errors 221, 230 

<lispatc'h to Grant 225 

composition of his force 230 

djiq>atch to Cooper 2;;5 

retreat 2:'.7 

relieved by Hardee 247 

Breckinridge, (ieneral John C, C. 

S. A 

defeats Sig.l 324 

enters Elast Tennessee 407 

Buckner, (ieneral S. B., V. S. A. . 

commands F«)rt DoneLson ... 52 

correspondence concerning 

surrender 07 

surrenders his comman<l. . . . 451 

Buell. Major-( ieneral D. C 

his commaml 74 

conies uj) 92 

Burnhnm. killed 303 

Burnside, Maj<>r(«eneral A. E. . . . 

commands Army of the Ohio. 213 

enters Knoxville 2-13 

ri-puliM-s liongwtreet 245 

rc-enforcinl 210 

commands Ninth Corps 2>2 

fights Hill 314 

Butler, .Mnjor-( ieneral B. F 

in-Ti.,--i..n.< 274 

1. c)f his force 324 

i: rmuda Hundred :'•-") 

disj«iuL i«j Mr. Stanton.. . 

causes of his failure 

moves ..'.') 

instructions frt)m (irnnt 400 

expedition against WUmlng- 

ton 410 



I 



5U 



INDEX. 



rAOc 
BuUer, Major-General B. F., failure 411 

relieved 414 

opinions on the Fort Fisher 

afikir 414 

Canby occupies Mobile 4^0 

receives Taylor's surrender. . 451 

Casualtit'S. table of 399 

Cattle raid o92 

Cedar Creek, battle of y>4 

Chapin's Farm, fight at o^J'-i 

Chamidon's Hill, battle of. 172 

Chattanooga, its importance. . 110, 210 

its situation 211 

battle of 281 

Chickahominy, battle of the 340 

losses at the 341 

crossing of the 345 

Chickamauga, battle of 210 

City Point, conference at 431 

Cobb surrenders Macon 451 

Cold Harbor, engagement at 337 

battle of. 399 

Colors captured, table of 399 

Columbus, Kentucky, its situa- 
tion 37 

fall of 75 

Columbus, Georgia, taken 451 

Comstock, Brevet Brigadier-Gen- 
eral C. B., sketch of 4G0 

Congress gives a medal to Grant. 249 

Corinth, map of. 101 

situation 100 

defences of 105 

evacuated 105 

battle of 127 

troops engaged 130 

Crook's movements in Western 

Virginia 323 

Cullum, letter from 70 

Cumberland, Array of the, com- 
manded by Thomas 213 

Ciunberland Gap taken 243 

Cumberland River, how far navi- 
gable 70 

Davis, Commodore C. H., his fight 

at Memphis 114 

Davis, Jeflerson, letters found. . . . 201 

visit to Chattanooga 219 

taken 451 

Deep Bottom occupied 358 

Dent, Brigadier-General F. J., 

sketch of 470 

Deserters, Grant's treatment of. . . 252 
Dickey. CVilonel T. L., sketch of.. . 471 
Dinwiiidie C'ourthouso, fight at. . . 430 
DoHflbon. See Fort D'/iwlson. 
Duane, commanding engineers . . . 231 



PAOl 

DuflF, Lieutenant-Colonel W. L., 

sketch of. 463 

Dunn, Captain W. McK., sketch of 403 
Dutch Gap Canal 397 

Early, General Jubal, C. S. A 

moves down the Valley 374 

enters Maryland 376 

success of his expedition. . . . 377 

movements in the Valley. . . . 378 

defeated at Winchester 383 

defeated at Fisher's Hill 383 

fight at Wa^Tiesboro' 425 

Elliotts raid ." 108 

Emancipation Proclamation 153 

Essex, disaster to the 38 

Ewell attacks 318 

Farmington, skirmish at 105 

battle at lOil 

Farragut's operations '. . . 136 

he attacks Mobile 405 

Fisher's Hill, battle of 383 

Five Forks, battle of the 433 

Floyd, General J. B., C. S. A., his 

character 51 

plans for defence 57 

escapes 65 

Foote, Flag-Oflacer A. H., sketch of 471 

his fleet 39, 41 

attacks Fort Henry 43 

attacks Fort Donelson 55 

obliged to withdraw 57 

bombards Island No. 10 78 

expeditions 113 

Forrest in Mississippi 271 

raids 405 

defeated by Wilson 450 

Fort Donelson, map of 59 

its situation 38 

its defences. ... 50 

its garrison 51 

naval a'tack 55 

land attack 03 

surrender of 68 

Fort Fisher, movement against. . . 410 

taken 413 

losses at 4l4 

controversy concerning 414 

Fort Henry, map of 40 

its situation 38 

its defences 41 

land and naval attack 43 

surrender of 44 

Fort Hindman taken 150 

Forts nnnind Petersburg 387 

Fort Pillow evacuated 113 

surrender of 405 

Fort Steadman taken and retaken. 430 



INDEX. 



51i 



rAuit 

Fort Steadmnn, losses nt -IM 

Forts on the W'oMoii road UsT 

Fostt-r, coinmanda Amiv of iho 

Ohio .' 2i:i 

r"'liovi>8 Burnsido 2.'")(; 

is rc'lifvod by t^cbofirld 2'i<» 

Franklin, buttle of 4():i 

Fredericksburg, battle of 144 

Oalena. Grant's homo 27 

tribute to Grant 4o3 

Gardner, correspondence with 

Bjinks lOG, 11)7, 198 

Gemiania Ford abandoned iJOO 

Getty^burjr. butile of 190 

Gillmore, Ueneral Q. A., bis repu- 
tation 325 

GoldBboro' occupied 420 

Grand Gulf, its jjoeition KIO 

attackeil 100 

Grant, Jessie R 19 

Grant. Ulysses S., birth and par- 
entage 19 

his education 20 

personal characteristics 2<)2 

character '2(>~ 

goes to West Point 21 

is graduated 23 

his life there 22 

brevet second-lieutenant in 

Fourth Infantry 23 

his carci-r during tbo Mexi- 
can war 24 

First-lieutenant 2."» 

brevetted for Molino del Rey. 2.5 

brevetted for Cbapultepeo. . . 25 

antidote 25 

ordered North 2fi 

marriage 20 

goes to Oregon 20 

resigns 20 

leatTier-deultr at (liilena 27 

adjutjint-giuiTal of Illinois.. 2S 

colonel 1 wcuty-lirst lUuiois 

Volunteers 28 

acting brigadier-general 29 

Brigadier-General U. S. Vol- 

xuiteirs 29 

commands at Cairo 29 

occujiiis Padueuh, Kentucky. 30 

("jK-rations around Behuont, 

Missouri 31 

attack upon Belmont 32 

leases 83 

important resultsof this affair 84 

reconnoissaneo in Kintucky. 30 

desires to storm Fort licary. 40 

attacks Fort Henry 42 

official report 44 



CJrant, Ulyspes S., n-huUb of tbo 

rapture of F>>rt Hf-nry 

reorganizes hin forces 

order for niurrh 

assaults Fort Dnnelson 

fails 

senrls for ro-enforccments. . . 

attacke<l by the enemy 

orders attack 

corrt'spondence concerning 

tbo surn-nder 07 

Major(»eneral I*. S. Vols. . . . 

general order announcing the 

victory 

his eoinmand is enlarged. . . . 

hi.s administration 

a.^cends the Tennessei* 

8U|>erseded and restored 

at Savannah. Tennessee 

assumes command in the field 

answer to Beaureirard 

loss at Pittsburg Landing. . . 

conduct at Pittsburg I^auding 

second in command 

extended jurisdiction 

dispatch concerning luka. . . . 

strengthens Corinth 

his command 

baggage 

objective 

moves upon Pemberton 

his staff 

treatment of negroes 

against plundering 

policy respecting trade 

plan of campaign 

cause of failure 

orders to Slierman 

telegraph to Sherman 

; orgi'.iiizes his army into corps 

.'K'lion on the Emancipation 

i Pn 

I St Vicksburg. . . . 

! ... i[ ..^ .^fW Cartilage 

I moves to Hani Times 

movement ami !•<-.; ion 

I'> 




■ u.-i,rw..; 

iid a.ssault 

; .-d 

of bis iroop«. . . . 

letter to unl 

nn-ets Pemberton 

letters to Pemberton . . . 188, 

enters ^■ick8burg 

M.ijor-Qeneral L'. S. A 

letter fruni the Presdect . 



46 
48 
49 

6;j 

M 
64 

61 

,68 
70 

71 

74 

75 

7(3 

81 

83 

83 

95 

96 

97 

111 

117 

124 

128 

134 

135 

135 

137 

133 

139 

139 

139 

141 

143 

144 

14G 

150 

153 
153 
158 
IGC 
163 
171 
176 
177 
178 
160 
180 
181 
183 
187 
189 
191 
194 
105 



516 



INDEX. 



« PAGE 

Grant, Ulyssee 8., letters to Hal- 

leck 200,202] 

sends out expeditions 202 

letter to the Secrctarv of the 

Treasury rcspectini; trade 204 

action respecting soldiers' 

fares 204 

action respectins: negroes. . r 205 

honors at Mtniphis 205 

letter to loyal citizens of Mem- 
phis 200 

goes to New Orleans 200 

review and accident 207 

trade regulations 207 

meeting with Stanton 211 

his now command 212 

composition of his army 212 

at Chattanooga 214 

condition of hisanny at Chat- 
tanooga 214 

orders Sliennan to move 221 

hisi)lans 222 

dispatch from Bragg 225 

new position 22!) 

letter to Halleck 235 

liis bearing on the field 23G 

comments on the campaign. 237 

congratulatory order 240 

letti-r from the President.. . . 248 

medal 24!) 

tours of inspection 251 

treatment of deserters 252 

visit to St. Louis 253 

]iolitical tendencies 257 

made lieutenant-general. . . . 258 

goes to Washington 258 

receives his commission 250 

visits the Armv of the Poto- 
mac ■ 200 

])rospects 205 

jmrjiose 2l)S 

condition of affairs 20'J 

assumes command of all ar- 
mies 277 

l)lan of campaign 280 

at the battle of the Wilder- 
ness 300 

loS8<!8 302 

di.xpatch to Mr. Stanton 311 

suc<"ess in th<^ campaign .... 310 

fight with Ewell 318 

ordei-s a new movement 319 

dilHculties 320 

moves 330 

obstacles 331 

l<)sj<es from 12th to 2 let May. 331 

change of base 335 

disixisition of tiie Army of the 

Potomac 330 



PAOK 

Grant, Ulysses S., lopses from the 

2l8t to the 31st of Mav 337 

line of battle ." 339 

plans 343 

losses from the 1st to the 10th 

of June 344 

losses from the 10th to the 

20th of June 855 

new movement 355 

attempts on the Weldon road 350 

rest 359 

extends his line 304 

steps for the defence of Wash- 
ington 377 

goes to the Valley of the 

Shenandoah 379 

interview with Himter 379 

directions to Hunter 380 

interview with Sheridan. . . . 382 

telegraph to Mr. Stanton .... 385 

movement north of the James 389 

movement on both Hanks. . . 392 

moves the entire armv 395 

rest ' 398 

criticism on Hood 403 

criticism on Thomas 404 

criticism on Kosecrans 406 

conference with Porter 409 

in.structions to Butler 409 

instructions to Terry 413 

letter concerning Fort Fisher 416 

orders to Schofield 418 

instructions to Slierman. ... 419 

instructions to Thomas 421 

movement to the left 422 

instructions to Sheridan.... 424 

position of the enemy 427 

orders to Meade, 6rd, and 

Sheridan 428 

conference at City Point. . . . 431 

instructions to Sheridan. . . . 433 

general advance ;140 

letter to Shenuan 441 

letters to Lee 443, 444 

interview with Lee 446 

letter to Lee, stating terms of 

surrender 447 

description of his demeanor. 446 

letter from Lee, accepting 

terms 448 

clo.se of his report 451 

reviews the army at Wash- 
ington 453 

lionoi-s showered npon him. . 453 

talents and character 453 

letter recomuKiuling oHieers. 457 

letters in praise of liawlins. . 458 

liis staff 4.~i5 

Gregg's operations at Stoney Creek 398 



INDHX 



.17 



Gricrson'fl cavalry raid H'll I 

Griirui rclievcH ^V^l^^•n 4:i'.t 

CiuuH taken and lost, tubli- nf 400 

Haines' Bluff, occupiod l>y tho 

cniMuy 1"'° 

tVint on 1 'j'j 

cviicuntcil and oc<'ui)icd ..... 170 

Hallick, Miijor-Ucncral II. W., 

sketch of 3-^ 

commands in Mis.souri US 

— : — advanroa on Corinth 102 

comixwiiion of his array 10| 

pi'm-ral-iu-chief 117 

Hamilton, Cicneral Sohuvlcr, canal 

at Island No. 10 79 

its success ^0 

Hampton's fipht with Sheridan... 354 
HanoK-k, Major-General W. S., 

,featof 31;^ 

interview with (». H. Stuart. ;5K5 

firjht on the North Ann:i '.V-'>2 

fi'^'ht at Reams' Station Il'.U 

fight on the Boydton road. . . I'.IIO j 

recruits First Corps 'M'^ . 

Hardee, his character 2:U ' 

reiiev<>8 Bragg 247 

fights Sherman at AveryslKiro' 4::20 

Harvard College confers a degn-e 

on ( » Hint 45'2 

Ha vs. ^Vlex.. killed oOi 

Henry. S.e Fcrl Ucury. 

Hicks drives Forrest from Paducah 405 

Hill fights Burnside 314 

Hillver. Colonel W. S., sketch of.. 400 

Uoliy Springs taken 110 

surrendered 143 

Hood. (Jeneral J. B., C. S. A 

character and dillicultics. . . . 405 

relieves Johnston 402 

Grant's criticism on 4(^3 

moves into Tennessee . 403 

- — battle at Franklin 403 

battle at Nashville 403 

Hixiker advances 217 

Hovey's movements on the Talla- 
hatchie • 142 

Hudrson, Brevet Colonel P. T., 

sketch of. 401 

Hvimjihreys, chief of etaflf 2S4 

commands Second Corps . . . 31(8 

Hunt, H. J., commanding arlUiery. 2.S1 

Hunter relieves Sigel 324 

dispat<h to llalltck 301 

light at North Uiver -iilj 

advance on Lynchburg '''<*'>'- 

failure ••i;;i 

dinviions from (Jnmt ItsO 

i-elieved by Sheridan 380 



Ihrie. Colonel (}eorg»' P.. sketch of. 

In;,'ail8. ( hicf t^uartermnstcr 

Island No. 10, its situation and d6- 

fcnc'-M 

1 1 and commander. 

i ; 1 ly FofJte 

ii-- -iir MiiM'-r 

luka, map of 

o|)oration8 near 

battle of. 



rAO« 

4(W 
2.S1 

78 
70 
7S 
HI 
121 
120 



.lackson, battle of 

pillaged 

evacuated 

James. cn>ssing of tho 

Johnson, B. IJ., C. S. A., his com- 
mand 

Johnson. Fxhvanl. C. S. A., taken. 

Johnston, General A. S.. C. S. A. 
his proclamation 

mortally womide<l 

Johnston, (ieneral J. E., C. S. .\. . 

in command at Jackson 

letter concerning Vicksburg. 

dis]io.'iiti"n 

order to his nn-n .... 

evacuates Jackson 

his pr)sition 

superseiletl by Hood 

fights Slocum at Bentonville. 

surrenders to Sherman 

Jones, W. E.. C. S. A., killed 



Kautz's expedition •" 

raid 

Kent. Brevet Brigadier-General L., 

sketch of. 

K<ntucky. rebel line in Western.. 

Kinston, battle of 

occni)ietl 

Knoxville fortifijHl 

besiegi-d 

attack<<l 

siege raised 

Kuykendal, Major A. J., sketch of. 

lAgow, Colonel C. B., sketch of. . 

Ijike Providence 

Lee. (General R. E.. C. S. A 

his character 

his j>o(*itii>n 

his plans 

ortl. r . fM:.v 1 Uh 

his • 

dis] 

ab«! 



170 
171 
201 
340 



313 

, 84 
89 

170 
177 
109 
I'.iO 
','01 
271 
402 
4-20 
449 
302 

325 

328 



470 
38 
420 
420 
243 
21» 
245 
210 
471 

40.5 
155 



•« line. . . 
: .ond 

with General 

Grant... 443, 

— interview \riih Grant 



270 
270 
200 
3 It} 
817 

2m 

441 

444 
44({ 



618 



INDEX. 



■ PAOB 

Lee, General R. E., C. S. A., letter 
to Grant accepting terms of sur- 
render 4^8 

Lwt, Major O. K., sketch of. 4G3 

LifUtcnauKJincral, grade of 2G0 

. jiassage of the bill 261 

Lincoln, Abraham, thanksgiving. . 305 

murdered 449 

Logan, eulogy on 102 

Longstrcet, operates against Knox- 

ville 244 

wounded 303 

. defeated at Cedar Creek 384 

Lookout Mountain, described 211 

Lovell overslaughed 137 

Lynchburg invested 362 

Mackall commands Island No. 10. 79 

Macon surrendered by Cobb 451 

McClellan resigns. 387 

McClernand, his command 48 

superseded 179 

McPlierson, Major-Qeneral J. B., 

sketch of 466 

fights battle of Raymond 109 

eulogy on 192 

killed 402 

I*leade, Major-GenenJ G. G 

at Culpepper 257 

visit from Grant 200 

instructions from Grant 279 

his value 280 

order to the Army of the 

Potomac 288 

adilress to his men 315 

order concerning the mine.. . 367 

instructions from (irant 428 

Grunt's opinion of him 454 

Medal for Vicksburg 209 

Meigs to Mr. Stantrm 2;:!9 

Memphis, battle near 114 

taken 115 

Meridian, raid upon 256 

Milliken's Bend, route against 

Vick.sburg 155 

Mines at Vicksburg 183, 184 

before Petersburg 305 

order concerning it 307 

causes of its failure 372 

^^iswionary Ridge, storming of . . . . 2ol 
Mii-sissippi, barring of the river. . 77 
Mitchell, General U. M., his ca- 
reer 112 

campaign in North Alabama. 113 

Mobile, movoineut upon 450 

occupied 450 

Munofiuy, fight on the 376 

Monterey occupied 103 

MontguUicry taken 401 



PIGS 

Murfreesboro' (Stone River), battle 

of 210 

Murphy surrenders Holly Sprirgs. 143 

Nashville, fall of 75 

battle of 403 

Natchez occupied 110 

New Hope, battles near 401 

New Madrid, its situation 78 

taken 79 

New Orleans, fall of 110 

review at 208 

Norfolk occupied 110 

North Anna, battle of the 832 

North River, battle of 363 

Ohio, Army of the, its commander 213 

Olustce, reverse at 257 

Ord, Maj or-General, E. O. C, 

sketch of 133 

at luka 1?4 

wounded ^ 131, S93 

relieves Butler 414 

instructions from Grant 428 

Orders, general 151, 212, 278 

Orders issued by Grant — 

announcing the victory of 

Donelson 71 

concerning guerrillas 118 

concerning negroes 118 

concerning Corinth 131 

concerning citizens 203 

concerning liis men 208 

of congratulation 243 

Pamunkey, crossing of the 335 

Parke, dispatch from Grant 181 

Parker, Brevet Colonel Elv S., 

sketch of. '. 462 

Pemberion, General J. C, C. S. A., 

his character 137 

commands at Vicksburg. ... 137 

letter from Johnston 177 

proposes surrender ISO 

meeting with Grant 187 

correspondence with General 

Grant 188, 189 

Pensacola occupied 110 

Petersburg, situation and import- 
ance 347 

assaults on 348, 350, 351 

Phelps, Lieutenant-Commanding 
U. S. N., reconnoitres Fort Henry 89 

expedition up the Tennessee. 46 

Philadelphia's tribute to Grant. . . 453 

Pillow. See Fort PtlUnc. 

Pillow, General G. J., his character 51 

escapes 60 

Pittsburg Landing;, ita situation. . 8£ 



INDEX. 



619 



78 

7S 

120 



TAon 
Pittsburg: I>nndinjr, battlo of. . . S-j, \i'2 

discussion conrorning ''7 

letter concerning 08 

Pleasants, LieutonantrColonel II., 

his mine "^^^ 

Point Pleasant, its situation 78 

tuktn by Poj^c 7H 

Polk. Major iieneral L.. (.'. f. A., 

sketch of :l- 

Pollard's works and their value. . 73 

Pop', Major-Ueneral Jolin 

takes Point IMea-sant 

takes New Madrid 

culled to Vir^'inia 

defeated in V irj;iuia 

Porter, Admiral D. D., runs tho 

batteries ^'^^ 

opens communications 1*0 

letter to the Secreury of tho 

Navy 

correspondence with Grant. . 

expedition against Wihning- 

ton • 

comments on the Fort Fisher 

affair 414 

Porter. Brevet Captain D. E., 

sketch of. i'2 

Porter, Brevet Colonel Horace, 

sketch of *1G1 

Port tiibson. battle of l''*-2 

Port lludiion, situation 1-"J 

sifgo ■' '"' 

surrender 

correspondence concerning. . 

Potomac, Army of the, rcorgan 

ized 

its composition 

position 

general movement of 

Price, General Sterling. C. S. A., 

his character 1*| 

invades Missouri •!*'"• 

Prime. Major F. E.. sketch of. Jiis 



Rosermns. Major n.-nTul W. 8 , 

ronimand.s in .Mi.ssitwippi 120 

at luka 123 

j)repamtinn.^ I'- < 

figlitrt at Stnno Hiver 210 

liglits nt Cliirknmauj^a 210 

relieved by 'I li'unas 213 

ojnTntes again.xt Pria? -lOtf 

(Jninls criticism on 400 

Boss. Captain Orhindo II., sketch 

nf....*^ 4G9 

i;, :,tes in the Valley &33 

1: iteuanl-Colonel W. R., 

,„ ; 407 

144 I Russell's House, battle of 107 



200 
40U 

410 



19() 
VM 

280 

2^-i 



Sailors' rrerk. battle of 4 13 

Savannali token 40- 

Scliofield. Major-Ueneral John Mc- 
Allister ^ 

reli>'ves Foster ~"*0 

li^'hts at Franklin 403 

. orders from Urant 412, 413 

operations in North Caro- 
lina 417.420 

Seiigwick, Major-General John, 

iiis cliararter 309 

his command 2bl 

killed 30S 

Seymour defeatetl at Olustee 2.57 

— ^ taken prisoner 2yi) 

Shackelford takes Cumberland 

Gap 243 

Sheridan, Major General P. H., his 

character " - 1 

commands cavalry '-^^1 

raid ^-^^ 

tiglU with J. E. B. Stuart. . . 321 

return '•^" 

fiirhts 3oC, :)3S 

fight with Hampton u">3 

reliev.-s Hnnt'T jiSO 

int<rvicw with tirant 3^3 



1^ Grants engineer 120 battle of ^yi'"l'.'st<-r 3-3 

** battle of Fi«-i»er s Ihll o>J 

Rawlins, Major-General John A., 

sketch of **"' 

Ravmond, battle of 1 W 

Read. General Theodore, killed . . 413 

Reams' Station, battle of. 3'.»1 

Resaca, battle of .••.••• ^^^ 

Review of tho armies at Washing- 

t,„, 452 

r; r-Gcneral, killed... 310 

Ki_ .• I John, sketch of.. 4G7 

RoL.iuciu, Brevet Major H, C, 

sketch of ■4*2 

BoeecnLDS, Major-Gcncral W. 8., 

Bketchof 132 



bnttlf of Cedar Cret^k »??•! 

\ ral U. S. A 3':<7 

- from Grant 434 

^:r;:n i :..^i:.-h -^ 435 

iifihl at \Vayn<slx>ro* 4'35 

i,,,;r,.i;i.iiis'from Grant. 428, 433 

! lul 434 

, raOrant 438 

l>u;::o ui Dinwiddio Court- 

hous*.' 4.>0 

battle of the Five Forts 438 

439 



report 



pursuca Loe- . 

sent to Texaa. 



411 



520 



INDEX. 



PAGE 

Sherman, ifajor-Gcneral W. T., 

reconnoi.ssauce 90 

at Pittsburg Landing 9"J 

letter concerning the battle. . 9s 

t'Xi)e(lition up the Tennessee. 10-2 

takes Holly Springs 110 

expeditions 144, 14(1 

letter to Porter 145 

composition of his army 147 

feint on Haines' Bluff. KIC 

its success 107 

eulogy on 192 

movements li'S 

enters Jackson 201 

commands Army of the Ten- 

nessee ~l<-> 

ordered to move 221 

movements 224 

re-en forces Burnside 24(i 

Meridian raid 250 

duties and responsibilities. . . 271 

operations in Georgia 401 

march southward 402 

instructions from Grant 419 

march north 420 

battle of Avcrysboro' 420 

interview with the President 421 

visit to City Point 431 

movements against Johnston. 447 

receives Johnston's surrender 449 

Shiloh. See Pittsburg Landing.. 

Sigel, instructions to 275 

defeated by Breckinridge.. . . o24 

relieved by Hunter o24 

Slocum fights at Bcntonville 420 

Smith, A. J., fighta Forrest at 

Tu[)elo 405 

Smith, Major-General C. F.,6ketcli 

of 72 

reconnoitres Fort Henry. .. . 39 

his command 48 

leads attack G4 

share in the assault 71 

commanding in the field. ... 82 

Smith, E. Kirby, refuses to sur- 
render 451 

Smith, Major-General W. F., sketch 

of .472 

expedition 210 

its success 217 

reconnoissance 222 

Snicker's Ferry, fight at 378 

Sjxjttsylvania, battles of 310 

losses at 315 

Staff of General Grant 283, 455 

Stanton, Hon. K. M., meets Grant. 211 

to Dix concerning Butler.. . . 328 

visits the army 85)5 

Steele's Bayou, reconnoissance up. 157 



PAGK 

Stoneman'q expedition to Wvthe- 

\-ille '. ... 407 

raid in North Carolina 449 

Stone River. See Murfreciboro'. 

Stuart, G. H., taken 303 

Stuart, General J. E. B., C. S. A., 

sketch of. , 321 

fights Sheridan 321 

mortally wounded 321 

Tables of losses, colors, and guns. 400 
Taylor, General R., surrenders to 

Canby 451 

Tennessee, Army of the, com- 
manded by Sherman 213 

Tennessee River, how far naviga- 
ble 38 

Terry sent again.st Wilmington . . 412 

takes Fort Fisher 413 

Thomas, Major-General G. H 

relieves Rosecrans 212 

commands Army of the Cum- 
berland 213 

promises to hold Chattanoo- 
ga 214 

advances 225 

movement against Dalton. . . 256 

defeats Hood'at Nash^ille. . . 403 

Major-General U. S. A 404 

Grant's criticism on 40-1 

instructions from Grant 421 

Tilghman, Brigadier-General Lloyd, 

C.S. A 

sketch of 41 

commands Fort Henry 41 

his death 174 

Torbert's raid on Staunton 383 

Towner, Lieutenant U. N., sketch 
of 473 

Van Dorn, General E., C. S. A., 

sketch of. 133 

defeated at Corinth 130 

overslaughed 137 

Vicksburg defended 140 

its importance 104 

its situatioa 105 

cut-ofl'near 154 

routes against 153 

invested 170 

first assault 177 

second assault 1 78 

condition 181 

mines 182,183.184 

monument at 188 

surrendered 190 

effects of the surrender 194 

medul for 209 

Virginia, campaign in 144 



INDEX. 



5J1 



rxni 

Wadsworth. General, killiHi 'J'.ts 

liis characttT ',H)2 

Wallncv. W. II. L.. mortally 

wounded 80 

"WalliK'o, L«wis, fights on tlio 

Mmiocary 37(5 

%Varren, ^iajor-Qene^al 0. K., his 

command 280 

attacked on the Weldon 

road 390 

relieved by Griifin 4:^1) 

Wtt-sbbume'g bill to make Grant 

(J.MUTal 453 

Wa.shinjxton. fight near 377 

Wiiyncsbon)', tight at dCi 

WebsttT, Brigadier-General J. D., 

sketch of. 4(5.") 

AYeldon road, attempts on 35G 

engagements on 300, 391 

Whiting. General W. H. C, C. S. 

A., death 416 

Wildernrss, description of the.. . . 288 

battle-field of the 203 

battles of. 294, 207 

losses in the 303 



FAOB 

Willianw, Major-Ocncral Sotli, 

i^kitch of 464 

Adjutant-! icnernl 284 

Williani.s, Hrigadier-( General Tom., 

canal 13.5. 153 

kill.'d 138 

Wilmington, its situation and im- 

jwrtanco 40S 

ex])cdilion against 410 

-—fail of 416 

Wilson, Major-General J. II., sketch 

of 469 

destroys railroad 338 

raids 358, 450 

Winchester, battle of 8s2 

Confederate loss '.iH'i 

Wright commands Sixth Coq».. . 309 

attacked 331 

commands at Wa-shington. . 377 

fights at Snicker's Ferry. . . . 378 

Yazoo Pass, route against Vicks- 

burg 155 

expedition up the 156 

Yorktown evacuated 110 



Portraits. 



Lieutex.\xt-Gexerai> U. S. Gn.vAT. 
MAjr)R-GESEH.vL James B. McPhi-ir- 

SON. 

M.v.ior-Gener.\x Qeoroe Q. Me:ade. 
M-uor-Genkrax E. 0. C. Ord. 



Major-Gener.vi. W. T. Sherm.vn'. 
Ma.ior-General Georoe II. TncMAS. 
Major-Ge:xerai. P. II. Sheridan. 
Major-General J. A. Rawli.ns. 



< 

v 



JUST PUeLISHED: 

"SHERMAN and his CAMPAIGNS:" 

nr 

Col 8. M. BO^VMAN and La. Cou E. B. IliWIN. 

/ rol., Hvo.; a 19 lUlyra. Clnlh $3J:0. 

WIXH SPLENDID STEEl_ PORTRAITS OF=- 

Major-General SHERMAN, Major-General SCHOFIELD, 

HOWARD, " " SLOCUM, 

LOGAN. " '■ BLAIR, 

DAVIS, " KILPATRICK. 

X.VD MAPS, PL Ays, <*e 

Th» extrmerdinjiry Campaign* of Major 0«n. Wil. T. SILERJIAX, and his noble Armj 
h«Te boen the sulijcct of the mo«t unqunliflcd praise in orery section of our oountry, and h»Tr 
oomnumded tho attention and admiration of the world. 

From tho first Bull-Run— the opening contest of tho Or«at Rebellion— through the Fall Cam- 
pai^ of '61, when his cloorer perception of tho magnitude of the war led many to think him 
"rrnry"— tho masterly tuegD of Vickabunt— the Atlanta Campaign, with its flankinr\ and 
fi;;htinKB, and rictorios — tho march through Georgia with its "pleasant time," and !\nA coiv- 
qucet of Siivannah— tho Campaign from Savannah to Goldnboro' and Raleigh, with ibo full of 
Charleston, capturo of Columbia, and tho final surrender of the entire rebel army under Gon. 
Jrluistoa, tho tierriccs of Gen. Sazojtxy have been of the most brilliant character, and hare 
BM'urod for him a nation's gratitude, and a foremost position among the Groat Captains of th/i 
world. In this long continued and suocoasful service he has been ably seoondc<l by auborviinato 
C^immonders worthy of such a Chief, whoao names an> indisaolably connected with t^ honor< 
of the several Campaigns, and their final crowning victory. 

This work— written by Col. Bowman, Gen. Sherman's pcraonal friend, and Lt. Col. Irwin, 
oni- of our ablest military writers— is the cotnplde official hittory of this grand army as a whole, 
and in all its details. Every Corps, Diviaon, Brigado and Ilegimcnt ii awarded its full ahar^ 
of credit and praise, the routes of march are carefully followed, tho battlea and skirmishee ar>^ 
dracribed with the vividness of actual participation, and the whole norratire is enlivened by thn 
ooontleas inddenta, both sad and mirthful, that were an inevitable aoeompanimoat of saoh 
nunpaig^ns. 

Gen. SnEaitASt's opinions and policy on all questions of public oonxxm are ftally made 
known by commtxnication from himself and otherwise, and discriminatinK biographical «ki H ^hef 
of all the prominent Commandcn arc given. 

A'o oOxtT official and auUttntie n.ttory of ihU Ortat Army ttta bt jmblithtd—toT no othor 
writers can huro access to the private and ciScial papers of tho soreral oomnuindars — all mcA 
in/omtalion ii/umithtd/or thii work txelutirtly. 

The following letter from Gon. Shkiu(a>c shuwi the official and authentic character of th' 
work. 

LiLXCAirrsB, Ohio, July SI, IS&i. 
C. B. UicHAansos, Ijq., WO Broadwnr, N. * Yrrl:. 

Sir :— Col. 8. M. Bowman, an ac<i . th 

sprrice of the U. 9., has had .uctM to !: .pi. 

ri . v:. j . -vrs written ly rac sancc t- rci 

' crviccs, and no ortu-r pt ntju luu Xuui »ui.ii lUi < rrt 

uA^ I beliore him to be in poMcaaion uf all authi : - Uie 

I .-vm, tee., W. T. Plli-KMAN, Major On:.KX%X. 

SOLD OJfLT DT auBscitij^ioy. 

C. B. RICHARDSON, Publistirr, 

640 Broadway, Naw York. 



OP lUB 

ARi'/lY OF THE POTOIVIAC, 

1(8 Organization to the Close of ihe War, 

v,r ^v^i.:.v.^^^ swixton. 

1 Vol. Bvo., about 600 Puges ; !ft4.00. 
WITH S1'L£:NDID STUKL i>OKTKAITS OF ITS OOJSEMAJiDEES, 

Major General Geo. B. McCiellan. Major General Joseph Hooker, 
" " A. E. Burnside, •' " George G. Meade, 

Ai«D MAPS, PLiA.\S, O^c, 

PKEPAKiiD BY COL. W. H. PAIXE, KXPllESSLY tOR THIS WOilK. 



It is i-cailily ix>ncede'l that the history of ihe Army of the Poiumoc is the history of much 
the largfcst and aliugethcr the inotst impoi-tmit section of the wai- through which the United 
States hxs juit pa»i!Ci]. As6i(fiied the double duty of guiuding the xCulional oipitul and captur- 
ing the capital of the Coni'odcr.icy, it was the fortune of that luiay, early ii.uncd by popular 
iiiieciinn " i'Hi. Granu Aumy ov the Potomac," to mcci on tlie soil of Virginia the head Aud 
front oi fiil theri'bol ]K)wer. Into that state, ua the Piandors of the war, oiich belligerent poui-ed 
iid nchetit leBouruos, loaiutaining ihcre ii:< furemosi oimy under its foremost leaders : ajid thus 
WHS seen for loui- ycara the fierce clinch and struggle of two mighty hosts, wuos»' x aryinjj for- 
tunes iLXcd the ulicniiou of the nation and the world, and with the issue of whose struggle it 
was aiwayu fell was bound up iho issue ol the war. Aud it is a notable circumstancu that ns the 
capture of Iticiuuorid wn^i the oist distinctive object of the war, so when through m^my lapMss 
and failures was achieved this crowning glory, the War ceased. 

It is this colossal drauui, as it stands ivlated to the army lirnt was the main actor therein, that 
Mr. Swintou has set forth in his Campaigns of Iht Anmj of the Potamac. It is believed that 
the work has been composed under cii'cuuit>uiueo3 jMcuiiarly lavorable, both as regards the in- 
t«lleclual titncbs of the author and the rithuess of the material employed. As mihtory editor of 
the N. Y. Timet, and ics special war correspouaent with the Army of the Potomac, JXr. Swintou 
gained throughout the country the reputation of a military xn-iter and critic of marked bril- 
liAucy and power. In addition, however, to his knowledge of the campaigns in N'ii-ginia, de- 
rived from a personal participation thei-ein, Mr. iiwinton Las been reinforced xrith the luupiust 
olllcial material on both i^idM. The Comm.iudcrs oi the Army of the Potomac, and their snb- 
oniiiuite olTicers, have with much libondity placed at his disposal tUeii' full oJidal records and 
raports, in large part lu manutcript ; while for the iliustraiiou of the doings ol the Coniedc- 
rHi«H, without a knowledge of which it is har<lly possible rightly to appreciate oui .'wu side, be 
wan fortunate enough t\> obtain the complete reports of the operutions in Virginia, and coiloc- 
tions of documents and iiicmoii-s believed to be uuique. With these udvantiigLa i: i* oonlideutly 
bttlivTcd that the Campaiijni of the Army of Ihe Potomac will bo the staaduxd authentic history 
•f tiial army ; and as cuch it is commended to the sharers in its toii« and glories. 

Sold ouly by subscription. 

C. B. RICHARDSON, Publisher, 

640 iiiiOADWAV. iV^JEW YOilK. 



THE ONLY MAGAZINE OF ITS KIND' 

002C2Ca32Tr>S:r> I3Y EVEHY I'HO^dliTEWT OB'S'lCiiiSL 
OS" THE A.K,lwIY yV-NT) NA.Vy. 



THE UMITED STATES 

SERVICE IViAGAZINE: 

ORGAN OF THE ARMY AND NAVY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

Third Year. 

Tni •• UNITKP STATK SERVICE M>\.G.VZIXE," the publication of which v&.< hoRun on 
iho l»t of Jonunrj-. ISM, to All a want very pcncnilly felt by the Officers of the Army and 
Nrtvy, baa proveJ » complrtc success, anJ ia now unircnally reoogniMd m thr mort 

AUTHENTIC RECORD OF MILITARY AND NAVAL AFFAIRS. AND THE OFFICIAL 

EXPONENT OF THE VILWS AND WANTS OF THE OFFICERS 

AND MEN OF BOTH SERVICES. 

Filled cuch month with articlee of the widc&i interest to all American citisons, written by tbr 
mo6t distinguished OtUccn in the service, and many of the meet talented writors in thu 
country ; it presents a table of raricd (.ontcsta of the meet altractiTc character. 

Its narratives and crilici^md oi military and naral m.ittor« are ercryvber*' quoted a«> 
authoritiea — and while giving lull :>pdcc to the record of such nOoirs, it each month ooniain.« 
fvticles of great intcrtJst to ovcry reader. 

£»ch Volume ooat.'un^ one or more 'Jplcndid Steel Portraits of our GREAT CAPTAINS, 
accompanied by luU and disoiminatin},- BIOGRArillCAL SICETCU£S. 

Lu the EnrroB'B Spkciai. Dktautxil^t a resume of all the important dre>ls of the month 
li given, while the "OryiciAi. ISTKLUcit-scK" gives ail important Army and Navy Orders 
Changes, &c ; and in the " laTKHART I.vTKUJuvcca ajiu Xutk4 on Xrw Book*," the current 
iaeuod of iho prcw on.' fully and critically noticed. 

All the present distinguidhing featured of the Magncine will be continued during the 
i-uming year, and, bc^uning with the January number 186G, we pnipov? to publish 

Historical Sketches of ihe several Army Corps, 

whtten in cuch case by a distinguished offlctT idcntilicd with the record of the oorpa, which 
will bo a leature of grcjil intonJr-t to all who have been members of tbea* nrncaiiijatioo*. 
Terms Vi.OO per annum. Sent rcguliirly by mail to itny .iddrx'»s upon receipt of prwe. 

C. B. RICHARDSON, Publisher. 

540 Broadway, Now York. 



The Southern History of the War. 



RiOHTLT to andcrstaad the great contest through which the country h&s just 
passed, and correctlj- to estimate the unprecedented services of oar great -'Armies 
of the Union," and their illut;trious leaders, it is essential to view these great 
deeds from the Southern as well as the Northern standpoint. 

For this rrason, and iis an itum oi' historic interest, we have reprinted from the 
Richmond Edition, the 

SOUTHERN HSSTORY OF THE WAR, 

BY 

EDWAED A. POLLAED, 

EXJIXOK- OF THE " I?,ICII2yt01TX> E35:.A.l»IIiTSE,," 
4 vols., 8vo., 400 pages. Clotb. $8.50 each. 



THE FIRST YEAR OF THE WAR, 

WITH AaTHEXTIC PORTRAITS ON STEEL, FROM LIFE, 

OF 

DAVIS, LEE BEAUREGARD a.id JACKSON. 

THE SECOND YEAR OF THE WAR, 

»'ITU PORTRAITS ON STEEL, 

iiKCESTLT TAKEN OF 

STEPHENS, LONGGTREJIT, HiUL, 5TUART oiid JOHNSON. 



THE THIRD Y :AR OF THE WAR, 

WITH PORTRAITS, ON STEEL, 

OF 

COOPER, BRAGG. KIR8Y SMITH, EWELL. and THE AUTHOR. 



THE LAST YEAR OF THE WAR, 

WITH FINi: PORTRAITS, ON STEEL, 

OF 

HOOD. HAMPTON. HARDEE and PRICE. 

This is the Only Sou thekn Histohv which has been published, and is every- 
where acknowledged to be the Official Soutuekn Record, and as such will 
be sought after by all intelligent readers. Mr. PoUaid's position a.< editor of the 
most influential Uichiuond newspaper, and hia relation.- with the Confederal',- 
Government, gave liim facilities for the pr-paratioii of such a work possessed by 
no other writer. 

The set, or i-ither vohimo separately, will h« sent post-paid to any address, tipou 
receipt of the price. 

C. B. RICHARDSON, Piibrisftei\ 

540 Broadway, New York. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



013 789 318 6 #1 



